EPIC FOIA 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. DOJ Case No. 15-1955
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | EU-US Umbrella AgreementSeeking the EU-US Umbrella Agreement, a framework for transatlantic data transfers between the US and the EU. The proposed goal of the Agreement is to provide data protection safeguards for personal information transferred between the EU and the US.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
November 4, 2015
EPIC v. USCG Case No. 15-1527
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Nationwide Automatic Identification SystemSeeking records on the Nationwide Automatic Identification System, a massive maritime data collection program.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
September 18, 2015
EPIC v. DEA Case No. 15-0667
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Privacy Impact AssessmentsSeeking all privacy impact assessments created by the Drug Enforcement Agency that are not currently available on the agency's website, as well as other privacy related documents created since 2007.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
May 1, 2015
EPIC v. DHS - FAST Program Case No. 1:15-cv-00289-CKK
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Fast Attribute Screening Technology (FAST)Seeking records on a "Minority Report" style initiative that seeks to determine the probability that an individual, who is not suspected of any crime, might commit a future criminal act.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
February 26, 2015
EPIC v. CIA Case No. 14-1645
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | CIA Congressional SpyingSeeking final reports of the CIA Inspector General regarding the CIA's involvement in the penetration of the Senate Intelligence Committee's computer network
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
October 1, 2014
EPIC v. DOD Case No. 14-1555
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | E-Voting Security TestsSeeking penetration testing reports relating to the Department of Defense's e-voting program.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
September 11, 2014
EPIC v. FBI Case No. 14-1311
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Privacy Impact AssessmentsSeeking all privacy impact assessments created by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that are not currently available on the agency's website, as well as other privacy related documents created since 2007.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
August 1, 2014
EPIC v. CBP Case No. 14-1217
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Analyticial Framework for IntelligenceSeeking records on a datamining program operated by Customs and Border Protection. This program would aggregate large amounts of personal data on individuals, regardless of suspicion or consent.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
July 18, 2014
EPIC v. Army Case No. 14-0776
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Surveillance BlimpsSeeking technical records related to giant blimps that were deployed over the Washington, D.C. metro area.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
May 6, 2014
EPIC v. DEA Case No. 14-0317
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | HemisphereSeeking information about Hemisphere, a collaboration between the Drug Enforcement Agency and AT&T;, and the largest telephone record monitoring program reported to date.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
February 26, 2014
EPIC v. DOJ Case No. 13-1961
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Pen Register Oversight ReportsSeeking the reports that detail the NSA's collection of call record information from US companies, which the Justice Department has routinely prepared for Congress but never made available to the public.
EPIC v. DOJ Case No. 13-1848
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Office of Legal Counsel PRISM MemosSeeking the legal analyses from the Office of Legal Counsel concerning the NSA PRISM program.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
November 25, 2013
EPIC v. BBG Case No. 13-1362
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Tor FundingSeeking documents related to the Broadcasting Board of Governor's surveillance of internet traffic traveling through The Onion Router (Tor).
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
September 9, 2013
EPIC v. FBI Case No. 13-0442
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Next Generation IdentificationSeeking the FBI's technical specifications, contracts, and privacy impact assessments for the Next Generation Identification initiative, which involves the collection and use of biometrics, including facial recognition technology.
EPIC v. Department of Education Case No. 13-0345
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Private Debt Collector Privacy Act ComplianceSeeking records relating to the Department of Education's use of private debt collection.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
March 15, 2013
EPIC v. DHS Case No. 13-0260, 14-5013
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit | Standard Operating Procedure 303Seeking SOP 303, a secret policy that codifies a shutdown and restoration process for use by commercial and private wireless networks during national crises.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
February 27, 2013
D.C. Circuit Opinion
February 9, 2015
D.D.C. Opinion
November 12, 2013
EPIC v. ODNI Case No. 12-1282
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Revised GuidelinesSeeking documents related to the collection and integration of detailed personal information of US persons from databases at various levels of government.
EPIC v. FBI Case No. 12-0667
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Stingray/Cell Site SimulationSeeking records related the use of a new tracking technology that records the location of cell phones even when the devices are not in use.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
April 27, 2012
EPIC v. DHS Case No. 12-0333
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Defense Contractor MonitoringSeeking records related to a DHS program involving the monitoring of Internet traffic of certain government contractors that may take place outside the statutory authority for electronic surveillance.
EPIC v. DOJ & FBI Case No. 12-0127
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Wikileaks InvestigationSeeking records about the government's investigations of Wikileaks supporters, including records obtained from Internet and financial services companies.
EPIC v. DHS Case No. 11-2261
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Social Media MonitoringSeeking records about the monitoring of news organizations and social media services by the Department of Homeland Security.
EPIC v. DHS Case No. 22-0945
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Mobile Body ScannersSeeking records about the possible expansion of the controversial airport body scanner program.
EPIC v. FTC Case No. 1:11-cv-00881
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Google Streetview InvestigationSeeking records on the FTC's investigation into Google Streetview
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
May 12, 2011
EPIC v. TSA Case No. 11-0290
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Body Scanner ModificationsSeeking records from the Department of Homeland Security regarding tests of airport body scanner radiation emissions and analyses of health risks, and the use of Automated Target Recognition software.
EPIC v. DHS Case No. 09-2084
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Body Scanner Radiation RisksSeeking records from the Department of Homeland Security regarding tests of airport body scanner radiation emissions and analyses of health risks, and the use of Automated Target Recognition software.
EPIC v. NSA Case No. 10-1533, 11-5233
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit | Google RelationshipSeeking records about the NSA's arrangement with Google regarding cybersecurity, following news reports that the agency would assist the company in analyzing network traffic.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
September 13, 2010
D.C. Circuit Opinion
May 11, 2012
D.D.C. Opinion
July 8, 2011
EPIC v. NSA Case No. 10-0196
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | National Security Presidential Directive 54 on Cybersecurity AuthoritySeeking NPSD 54, a Presidential Directive that grants the National Security Agency broad authority to conduct surveillance of domestic communications.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
February 2, 2010
Memorandum Opinion
October 21, 2013
Fees Opinion
April 8, 2015
EPIC v. DOJ Case No. 10-1157
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Body ScannersSeeking records on the United States Marshals Service's use of full body scanners for courthouse security.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
December 17, 2009
EPIC v. DHS Case No. 09-2084
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Body ScannersSeeking records from the Department of Homeland Security that directly relate to the TSA body scanner program.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
November 5, 2009
Second Complaint
January 13, 2010
Memorandum Opinion
January 12, 2011
EPIC v. VSP Case No. 08-1357
District Court for Arlington County, Virginia | Fusion CentersSeeking records that directly relate to alleged federal government involvement with a bill which exempts the Virginia Fusion Intelligence Center Virginia Fusion Center from Virginia privacy and government transparency laws.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
March 21, 2008
EPIC v. FTC Case No. 08-0448
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Conflict of InterestSeeking records for that directly relate to Chairman Majoras' conflict of interest in the Commission's Google-Doubleclick merger review.
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
March 14, 2008
EPIC v. DOJ Case No. 06-0096
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia | Warrantless WiretappingSeeking the legal memos justifying the warrantless wiretapping program of the Bush Administration
Documents
EPIC's Complaint
January 19, 2006
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The Future of Foreign Intelligence: Privacy and Surveillance in a Digital Age by Laura Donohue