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December 2005
"EPIC does wonderful work. I admire their efforts to protect the
privacy of Americans. Particularly at this moment when there is
growing concern about unlawful surveillance within the United States,
I urge you to support the work of EPIC."
-- James Bamford, author, The Puzzle Palace, Body of Secrets,
and A Pretext For War
Q: Why am I receiving this email?
Every year EPIC sends a fundraising request to EPIC Alert
subscribers to ask for a contribution to EPIC. Individual
contributions are critical for the continued success of EPIC.
Q: Why should I contribute to EPIC?
EPIC is on the front lines of the major privacy and civil
liberties debates. EPIC is an effective and innovative advocate
for the public interest. EPIC builds on a strong reputation of
success. EPIC has expertise in law, technology, and public policy.
EPIC spends modestly but has an impact greater than much larger
organizations.
Q: What is EPIC's mission?
EPIC works to protect privacy, freedom of expression, democratic
values, and to promote the Public Voice in decisions concerning
the future of the Internet.
Q: How can I find out more information about EPIC?
Our web site is great. Take a look at
http://www.epic.org/
Network for Good provides a good overview of EPIC's mission,
program, results, and financial data
http://www.epic.org/donate/
And EPIC has an outstanding Board of Advisors
http://epic.org/epic/advisory_board.html
Q: Who supports EPIC?
Most of our support comes from private foundations and individual
donors. We also receive income from litigation and the sale of
publications.
Q: Why does EPIC need my support?
EPIC is neither a trade group nor a membership association. We rely
on support from foundations and individual donors to maintain our
programs.
Q: Is my contribution to EPIC tax-deductible?
Yes, EPIC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your contribution
is fully tax-deductible to the extent of the law. (Our tax ID #
is 52-2225921)
Q: Will you disclose my name and address to others?
Absolutely not. EPIC does not rent, loan, trade, release or
otherwise make available the names of its individual contributors.
Q: What does EPIC do with the contributions it receives?
Glad you asked. We maintain one of the most extensive Web sites on
privacy and free speech issues on the Internet. We litigate
Freedom of Information Act, First Amendment, and privacy cases. We
publish several of the leading books on open government and
privacy. We train law school students about the Internet and the
public interest. We testify frequently before Congress about
emerging civil liberties issues. We publish an excellent online
newsletter. We provide an extensive listing of privacy resources
as well as a guide to practical privacy tools.
Q: Sounds like you make good use of contributions.
We do.
Q: Could you give a specific example?
Recently EPIC brought together 100 organizations to oppose a new
marketing database for the Department of Defense that would have
included social security numbers, grades, and ethnicity on more
than 30 million Americans, 18 to 25 years old. EPIC's research
into the Federal Register revealed that the profiling system
violated the federal Privacy Act.
We also filed legal briefs opposing DNA dragnet searches and
endorsing workplace privacy for public employees. And EPIC
recently obtained documents from the FBI that describe 13 cases of
misconduct in domestic intelligence investigations. News
organizations across the country wrote about the implications of
EPIC's efforts for the pending renewal of the Patriot Act.
Q: Does anyone read your stuff?
According to Google, EPIC maintains the top ranked Web pages for
"privacy," "Patriot Act," "Total Information Awareness,"
"passenger profiling," "The Public Voice," "In Defense of
Freedom," "SSN privacy," "RFID privacy," and others.
Q: What are your other current projects?
"Spotlight on Surveillance" examines hi-tech surveillance systems
underway at the Department of Homeland Security. Our research and
Freedom of Information Act requests have revealed that many of the
proposals to identify terrorists are becoming systems of mass
surveillance directed toward the American public.
"EPIC FOIA Notes" highlights interesting government documents
obtained by EPIC under the federal Freedom of Information Act.
Among the recent disclosures are records of watch-list errors,
draft standards for electronic voting systems, and internal agency
memos that gave the FBI broad access to personal information held
by the Social Security Agency.
We are looking at the problems associated with electronic voting.
The secret ballot requires ensuring both the integrity and privacy
of the voting process. The National Coalition for Voting
Integrity, an EPIC project, is promoting new voting techniques
that are secure, reliable, transparent and safeguard privacy.
EPIC West is our new San Francisco-based office that focuses on
consumer privacy issues in the states. EPIC West is working
closely with policymakers and consumer organizations on emerging
privacy issues.
EPIC's Public Voice program works to protect public participation
in decisions concerning the future of the Internet. We are
encouraging NGO participation in the United Nations World Summit
on the Information Society.
There's more. You get the idea.
Q: Do you see new challenges in 2006?
There will be a big battle next year when the Department of
Homeland Security announces plans for the "REAL ID" card. This
proposal, which sneaked through Congress without a vote or even a
hearing, will establish a national ID card. What that really means
is that a lot of people, mainly working for the government, will
start asking you to prove who you are. That is bad.
EPIC organized an important conference in 2005 on the implications
of REAL ID. And we've been involved in the battle over the
National ID since our founding. We are planning more work for next
year. And we'll need your help.
We also will work for reform of the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act. That law, which is the cornerstone of the
Patriot Act authority, has dramatically expanded government
secrecy. We do not object to effective law enforcement, but
public oversight is essential to prevent misuse. EPIC has
obtained documents under the Freedom of Information Act
concerning the Patriot Act "sunset" provisions that we believe
will be helpful to the public and the Congress as it reviews
this legislation.
And, of course, the news that the President violated the FISA is
very serious.
Q: What else will you be doing in 2006?
Medical record privacy and the specific problem of DNA collection
and misuse will be a big issue for us next year. We are joining
with the Patient Privacy Rights Foundation to mobilize public
attention.
We will continue our work on the reliability of electronic voting
systems. Ensuring both integrity and privacy for electronic voting
is critical for the future of online privacy. And with mid-term
elections coming up, we need to be sure that every vote cast will
be counted.
And EPIC will continue our open government efforts. We'll put out
a new edition of "Litigation Under the Federal Open Government
Laws"--the bible for open government lawyers--and pursue our own
FOIA requests.
Q: What about consumer privacy?
More than 100 million Americans signed up for the Do Not Call
service. But some businesses are now proposing loopholes that
could bring back calls at dinnertime. EPIC will continue to push
for vigorous enforcement of the Do Not Call list at the Federal
Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission.
Also, the Patriot Act opened the door to commercial "data brokers"
who take your personal information from public records and sell it
to government agencies. EPIC has filed petitions with federal
agencies to stop this.
Q: What about technology to safeguard privacy?
We're working with the University of Ottawa Law School on a new
project to promote technologies for privacy. The EPIC Advisory
Board also includes many of the leading experts. We have always
supported good technical solutions to privacy protection.
Q: Does EPIC take contributions from private companies?
Yes, but we do not lobby for, consult or advise companies nor do
we endorse products or services. Contributions from companies are
only accepted for general support.
Q: Can I make a contribution by credit card?
Yes. You can donate online through Network for Good. There you can
also get additional information about our programs and activities.
You can also donate anonymously if you wish, or use Paypal.
Q: Can I send you a check?
Absolutely. Most of our contributors send personal checks. Checks
should be made payable to "EPIC" and sent to EPIC, 1718
Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20009.
Q: Anything else?
Yes. Thanks very much for your support.
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