Privacy & Technology

The Fourth Amendment protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures, but rapidly advancing technological capabilities and outdated laws have nevertheless left Americans’ private lives vulnerable to government intrusion.

Placeholder image

Privacy & Technology is part of ACLU of Colorado's Privacy & Liberty Project.

The Fourth Amendment protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures, but rapidly advancing technological capabilities and outdated laws have nevertheless left Americans’ private lives vulnerable to government intrusion.

We work to defend privacy as it relates to medical information, the internet and social media, consumer information, and more. Here in Colorado, we’ve filed suit to safeguard taxpayer privacy, challenged school officials’ search of students’ text messages, and investigated the disclosure of private phone records to the National Security Agency. We also revealed the existence of the Denver Police Department’s Spy Files ‐ the monitoring and recording of the peaceful protest activities of Denver-area residents, and the file-keeping on the expressive activities of law-abiding advocacy organizations. In 2013, we successfully advocated for legislation that protects Coloradans’ personal social media passwords and credit history from employers.

The Latest

Resource
Placeholder image

Home

Press Release
Placeholder image

Jury Finds Denver Police Officers Violated Colorado Constitution, Awards $3.76 Million in Damages

In a precedent-setting decision under a new statute allowing enforcement of the Colorado Constitution, a Colorado jury awarded $3.76 million in damages to Ruby Johnson...
Press Release
Placeholder image

ACLU sues Denver Police Detective Over Unlawful SWAT-team Search of Montbello Grandmother’s Home

ACLU of Colorado lawyers filed suit today on behalf of Ruby Johnson — a 77-year-old grandmother whose Montbello home was subjected to a terrifying hours-long search last January by a Denver Police Department (DPD) SWAT team dressed out in body armor and carrying automatic weapons.
Press Release
Placeholder image

ACLU Legal Director Mark Silverstein Announces Forthcoming Retirement After 31 Years

After 26 years fighting to expand and protect Coloradans' civil rights and civil liberties, Mark Silverstein, the Legal Director of the ACLU of Colorado, has announced his upcoming retirement.
Court Case
Jun 12, 2025

Ruby Johnson v. Gary Staab and Gregory Buschy of the Denver Police Department

We sued two Denver Police Officers for searching our client's home based on an illegal search warrant lacking probable cause.
Court Case
Aug 21, 2024

Armendariz and Chinook Center v. City of Colorado Springs, et al.

This case concerns the Colorado Springs Police Department’s use of unconstitutional warrants to comb through activists’ digital data in retaliation for their political speech and association.
Court Case
Jun 10, 2017

Longmont public housing tenants subjected to illegal K-9 searches of their homes

Court Case
Oct 25, 2013

Denver Marijuana Ordinance