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Electronic Privacy Information Center - Wikipedia
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EPIC is a nonprofit advocacy organization focused on digital privacy and civil liberties, relevant to AI safety through its work on surveillance, data protection, and algorithmic accountability — areas that intersect with AI governance and deployment oversight.
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Summary
EPIC is a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit founded in 1994 to protect privacy, freedom of expression, and democratic values in the digital age. It pursues advocacy, litigation, and research on consumer privacy, government transparency, and civil liberties. Its work includes FTC complaints against major tech companies and FOIA cases against intelligence agencies.
Key Points
- •EPIC was founded in 1994 and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on privacy rights, civil liberties, and open government.
- •Has successfully pursued FTC complaints against Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Choicepoint over privacy violations.
- •Won significant FOIA cases against CIA, NSA, DHS, FBI, and other agencies, forcing disclosure of secret programs.
- •Litigated landmark cases including removal of x-ray body scanners in US airports and release of NSA's cybersecurity authority.
- •Relevant to AI governance through work on drone privacy regulations, surveillance oversight, and algorithmic accountability.
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Electronic Privacy Information Center - Wikipedia
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Research institute in Washington D.C., US
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Electronic Privacy Information Center Abbreviation EPIC Formation 1994 ; 32 years ago  ( 1994 ) Type 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Purpose privacy , freedom of expression , democratic values, open government Location(s) 1519 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. , U.S. 20036
Executive Director and President Alan Butler [ 1 ] Website epic .org
The Electronic Privacy Information Center ( EPIC ) is an American independent nonprofit research center established in 1994 to protect privacy, freedom of expression, and democratic values in the information age . Based in Washington, D.C. , their mission is to "secure the fundamental right to privacy in the digital age for all people through advocacy, research, and litigation." [ 2 ] EPIC believes that privacy is a fundamental right, the internet belongs to people who use it, and there's a responsible way to use technology. [ 2 ]
EPIC pursues a wide range of civil liberties, consumer protection , and human rights issues. EPIC has pursued several successful consumer privacy complaints with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) concerning Snapchat (faulty privacy technology), [ 3 ] WhatsApp (privacy policy after acquisition by Facebook), [ 4 ] Facebook (changes in user privacy settings), [ 5 ] Google (roll-out of Google Buzz), [ 6 ] Microsoft (Hailstorm log-in), [ 7 ] and Choicepoint (sale of personal information to identity thieves). [ 8 ] EPIC has also prevailed in significant Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cases against the CIA , [ 9 ] the DHS , [ 10 ] the Department of Education , [ 11 ] the Federal Bureau of Investigation , [ 12 ] the National Security Agency (NSA), [ 13 ] the ODNI , [ 14 ] and the Transportation Security Administration . [ 15 ] EPIC has also filed many amicus curiae briefs on law and technology, including Riley v. California (2014), which concerned cell phone privacy. They have also litigated important privacy cases, including EPIC v. DHS (D.C. Cir. 2011), which led to the removal of the x-ray body scanners in US airports, and EPIC v. NSA (D.C. Cir. 2014), which led to the release of the NSA's formerly secret cybersecurity authority. Additiona
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