Media Appearances

Austin, Texas is a major tech hub with a population that’s engaged in advocacy and paying attention. Since 1991, EFF-Austin an independent nonprofit civil liberties organization, has been the proverbial beacon alerting those in central Texas to the possibilities and implications of modern technology. It is also an active member of the Electronic Frontier Alliance (EFA). On a recent visit to Texas, I got the chance to speak with Kevin Welch, President of EFF-Austin, about the organization, its work, and what lies ahead for them:

The Austin City Council has decided to end its automated license plate reader (ALPR) program, following a wave of criticism over data privacy concerns. The deci

Kevin Welch, board president of EFF Austin, told the Technology Commission on July 9 that automated license-plate readers (ALPRs) are mass-surveillance tools, described risks identified in the city pilot audit and urged the commission to advise city council against renewal or future adoption.

After a year of back-and-forth, the controversial ALPRs could return after they were removed when Austin policing was reimagined in 2020.

City leaders in San Marcos and Austin raise concerns over the use of license plate readers.

A new report by the Mozilla Foundation details just how much data cars can actually gather.

At least 40 HOAs and 12 law enforcement agencies in Central Texas use Flock Safety license plate readers.

David Mimlitch was on his lunch break in 2011, flipping through the 606 aerial photos he had just taken with a drone outside Dallas, when he noticed something strange: a creek stained scarlet with blood.“That’s blood. Surely that can’t be right, surely tha

With a computer and a modem, anyone can travel the state on the information superhighway, but it helps to have a road map. A complete guide to Texas on-line.