EPIC Freedom of Information Act Cases

EPIC makes frequent use of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to obtain information from the government about surveillance and privacy policy. 

Public disclosure of this information improves government oversight and accountability. It also helps ensure that the public is fully informed about the activities of government. EPIC routinely files lawsuits to force disclose of agency records that impact critical privacy interests. 

EPIC FOIA Cases
EPIC v. CIA (CIA Congressional Spying) (2014)
EPIC v. DOD (E-Voting Security Tests) (2014)
EPIC v. FBI (Privacy Assessments) (2014)
EPIC v. CBP (Analyticial Framework for Intelligence) (2014)
EPIC v. Army (Surveillance Blimps) (2014)
EPIC v. DEA (Hemisphere) (2014)
EPIC v. DOJ (Pen Register Reports) (2013)
EPIC v. DOJ (OLC Prism Memos) (2013)
EPIC v. BBG (Tor Funding) (2013)
EPIC v. FBI (Next Generation Identification) (2013)
EPIC v. Department of Education (Private Debt Collector Privacy Act Compliance) (2013)
EPIC v. DHS (SOP 303) (2013)
EPIC v. CIA (Domestic Surveillance) (2012)
EPIC v. ODNI (Revised Guidelines) (2012)
EPIC v. FBI (Stingray/Cell Site Simulation) (2012)
EPIC v. DHS (Defense Contractor Monitoring) (2012)
EPIC v. DOJ & FBI (Wikileaks) (2012)
EPIC v. DHS (Social Media Monitoring) (2011)
EPIC Asks Court to Require DHS Disclosure of Mobile Body Scanner Documents (2011)
Google Street View Investigations (2011)
EPIC v. TSA (Body Scanner Modifications) (2011)
EPIC v. DHS (Body Scanner Radiation Risks) (2010)
EPIC v. NSA (Google Relationship) (2010, 2011)
EPIC v. NSA (Cybersecurity Authority) (2010)
EPIC v. DOJ (FOIA, Body Scanners) (2009)
EPIC v. DHS (FOIA, Body Scanners) (2009, 2010)
EPIC v. FTC (Conflict of Interest) (2008)
EPIC v. VSP (Fusion Centers) (2008)
EPIC v. DOJ (Warrantless Wiretapping) (2006) 

Top News 

EPIC Recommends Changes to Judicial Redress Act: In a letter to the House Judiciary Committee, EPIC recommended changes to the Judicial Redress Act to provide meaningful protections for data collected on non-U.S. persons. The bill, also pending in the Senate, seeks to amend the federal Privacy Act. 

EPIC explained that the legislation under consideration fails to provide adequate protection to permit transborder data flows. EPIC also pointed to increasing public concern in the United States about failure to enforce the law. 

EPIC has previously recommended Congressional action to ensure adequate protections for all personal information collected by U.S. federal agencies. EPIC is also seeking public release of the text of the EU-US "Umbrella Agreement." (Sep. 16, 2015)

Congress Moves to Advance Judicial Redress Act as Secret Police Agreement is Leaked in Europe :

 A Congressional committee will this week consider endorsement of the Judicial Redress Act, after announcement of the just concluded EU-US "Umbrella Agreement." EPIC filed expedited an FOIA requests to obtain the text of the secret agreement. The document was since made available by Statewatch. 

EPIC will pursue official release of the Agreement from US and EU authorities to the public. Regarding amendments to the Privacy Act, EPIC has made extensive recommendations for Privacy Act modernization, including specific changes to the damages provision that would correct a Supreme Court holding and address such problems as the OPM data breach. (Sep. 15, 2015)

EPIC Pursues Public Release of EU-US Agreement on Data Transfers: EPIC has filed an expedited FOIA request to obtain a secret agreement between US and EU law enforcement agencies concerning the transfer of personal data. 

Citing legislation pending in Congress and NGO concern about the scope of the data protection safeguards, EPIC said "there is an urgency to inform the public" about the contents of the agreement. 

EPIC has pursued numerous FOIA cases and routinely made the information obtained available to Congress and the public. 

The agency has 10 days to respond to EPIC's request about the law enforcement "umbrella agreement." (Sep. 10, 2015)