News & Commentary

Cross-posted from The Chicago Tribune Voice of the People, May 15, 2013

An article on DNAInfo illustrates Chicago's efforts to expand its surveillance camera program in light of the Boston bombings. Citing a recent ACLU of Illinois report on the city's video surveillance cameras, there are approximately 22,000 surveillance cameras accessed by city officials. Mayor Rahm Emanuel has endorsed the use of surveillance cameras to reduce crime. The ACLU of Illinois has called for increased transparency around how they are used. DNAInfo talked to ACLU of Illinois senior staff counsel and author of the camera report, Adam Schwartz:

Recent studies demonstrate that the DNA collected in the national database already reveals predictive information about an individual's medical and mental health. Even if this personal information is revealed, Posner suggests, we need not worry since laws exist to "deter" government from sharing or selling this personal information to insurance companies and others who will have a significant interest in such data. But the laws that prohibit such sharing of personal information can be lifted in short order, or done so retroactively. Read the whole thing.

ACLU

An e

In a letter sent on February 21, 2013, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois urged the Chicago Housing Authority not to approve a policy for a new mixed-use development in Chicago that mandates suspicionless drug testing for CHA residents at the facility.  The new development is the Shops and Lofts at 47, to be located at 47th Street and Cottage Grove on the City’s South Side.

Senator Daniel Biss (D) appeared on the WLS-AM radio show "Hartford and Kass" to discuss his sponsorship of a bill that would limit the use of surveillance drones by law enforcement in Illinois. The ACLU of Illinois is working with Senator Biss to ensure regulations are in place to protect privacy. Other ACLU affiliates have helped to pass similar laws in their states.

Nearly a year before passage of the Affordable Care Act, President Obama signed into law another sweeping change to America’s system of health care delivery. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the federal government appropriated several billion dollars to assist all fifty (50) states implement new electronic medical records systems.