stop surveillance
EFF fights surveillance where it matters most: your local community.
Government and law enforcement have demonstrated they are willing to use every tool available to spy on protesters, people seeking abortions, immigrants, and many others.
Through location tracking, video recording, biometric data collection, and access to smart devices, law enforcement is starting to rival intelligence agencies in acquiring privacy-invasive technologies.
EFF battles them in the courts, in the legislatures, and on the streets.
What EFF Is Doing
Fighting for Encrypted Communication
Governments pressure companies to build sketchy “backdoors” into encryption, giving law enforcement easy access to your private conversations. While cops want you to picture The Bad Guys, encrypted communication protects trans people, community organizers, journalists’ sources, and other vulnerable members of our community.
Years ago, EFF encrypted the web. Now we fight state, federal, and international laws that try to demand backdoors to end-to-end encryption.
Exposing the Surveillance Machine
EFF’s Atlas of Surveillance maps surveillance technologies deployed by law enforcement in communities across the United States. This technology includes drones, body-worn cameras, automated license plate readers, facial recognition, and more. EFF is also mapping the “virtual wall” of surveillance devices along the U.S.-Mexico border. And we’ve pushed to halt federal access to California’s automated license plate reader data.
Kicking Surveillance Out of Your Home
For years, EFF has fought to end the relationships between police departments and Amazon Ring, who used customers as unwitting pawns in a massive camera surveillance network. We’re even suing to stop cops from using your power meter data as a surveillance tool. As more home devices become “smart,” we’re making sure we stay smarter.
What You Can Do
Surveillance Self-Defense
Whether you are a protester, journalist, human rights defender, or just creeped out by all the ways companies and governments track you, check out EFF’s expert Surveillance Self-Defense guide to protect you and your friends from online spying.
Fight for Encrypted Communication
Privacy is a team sport, and it’s up to you to take action: plan protests, support mutual aid, and use encrypted chat apps like Signal for your everyday conversations. And tell your elected officials to fight for everyone’s right to private conversations.
Watching the Watchers
Lend us your eyes: Submit data or volunteer for the Atlas of Surveillance, so we can keep pushing law enforcement for transparency and accountability from coast to coast. And when police want to expand surveillance in your community, voice your concerns to local elected officials.