September 8, 2021–Due Process Institute joined a letter with organizations from across the political spectrum to urge the Biden administration to fill the vacancies on the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) as expeditiously as possible and with nominees that will vigorously protect privacy and civil liberties while upholding government transparency.
The PCLOB currently has three vacant seats and no Chairperson, significantly limiting the work the Board can accomplish because the Board cannot operate without a quorum. A functioning PCLOB is necessary to continue to hold the government accountable for safeguarding our privacy and civil liberties in surveillance programs that are often shrouded in secrecy.
It is critical that the PCLOB operate with a full bipartisan slate of qualified individuals with expertise in protecting privacy and civil liberties and experience in the field. When Board members fail to vigorously pursue the Board’s oversight mission, years of work can be reduced to reports that provide little if any useful information or, worse, remain hidden from public view. The PCLOB has played a significant role in informing the public debates over the past several years regarding the operation of U.S. surveillance programs. It must be restored to its full operating capacity through the appointment of Board members dedicated to vigorous pursuit of its mission.