David Cole

Legal Affairs Correspondent

@DavidColeACLU

David Cole is The Nation’s legal affairs correspondent, and national legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Here’s What’s Wrong With the USA Freedom Act

Here’s What’s Wrong With the USA Freedom Act Here’s What’s Wrong With the USA Freedom Act

It would constrain some of the worst excesses of the Patriot Act, but it doesn’t go nearly far enough.

May 6, 2015 / David Cole

Is Privacy Obsolete?

Is Privacy Obsolete? Is Privacy Obsolete?

Thanks to the revolution in digital technology, privacy is about to go the way of the eight-track player.

Mar 23, 2015 / Feature / David Cole

The One Supreme Court Decision We Can Celebrate

The One Supreme Court Decision We Can Celebrate The One Supreme Court Decision We Can Celebrate

In ruling that police may not search cellphones without a warrant, the Court brought the Fourth Amendment into the twenty-first century.

Jul 2, 2014 / David Cole

We’ve Been Living in ‘1984’ Since 1921

We’ve Been Living in ‘1984’ Since 1921 We’ve Been Living in ‘1984’ Since 1921

That was when the Bureau of Investigation—the forerunner of today’s FBI—first opened a file on the magazine.

Jun 25, 2014 / David Cole

Why Obama’s NSA Reforms Are Only a First Step

Why Obama’s NSA Reforms Are Only a First Step Why Obama’s NSA Reforms Are Only a First Step

The president has made a step toward better oversight, but his proposals leave the agency’s system of dragnet surveillance mostly intact.

Jan 22, 2014 / David Cole

We Need Privacy Laws for the Digital Era

We Need Privacy Laws for the Digital Era We Need Privacy Laws for the Digital Era

Updating the Fourth Amendment has been done before, to address the invention of cars, phones and GPS. It’s time to do it again.

Jan 8, 2014 / David Cole

Time to End the Spying Game

Time to End the Spying Game Time to End the Spying Game

Americans are justifiably upset about the NSA’s sweeping domestic surveillance. But we should be just as concerned about spying on foreigners.

Nov 13, 2013 / David Cole

Race at the Supreme Court

Race at the Supreme Court Race at the Supreme Court

Affirmative action survives, for now, but the Court erects new hurdles for employment discrimination suits.

Jun 24, 2013 / David Cole

Supreme Court Delivers a Win for First Amendment Rights

Supreme Court Delivers a Win for First Amendment Rights Supreme Court Delivers a Win for First Amendment Rights

In a 6-2 decision, the Court prohibited the government from requiring organizations to espouse specific ideas in order to receive funding.

Jun 20, 2013 / David Cole

Secret NSA Program Gives the Agency Unprecedented Access to Private Internet Communications

Secret NSA Program Gives the Agency Unprecedented Access to Private Internet Communications Secret NSA Program Gives the Agency Unprecedented Access to Private Internet Communications

Somewhere along the way, we lost our bearings on the balance between privacy and security.

Jun 7, 2013 / David Cole

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