EPIC's mission is to focus public attention on emerging privacy and related human rights issues. EPIC works to protect privacy, freedom of expression, and democratic values, and to promote the Public Voice in decisions concerning the future of the Internet. With EPIC's Freedom of Information Act litigation, we hope to promote government accountability and strengthen democratic institutions. The EPIC Consumer Privacy project promotes consumer protection, particularly for users of new Internet-based services. EPIC's Domestic Surveillance Project seeks to rein in the scope of government surveillance, particularly as to new systems for identification, and profiling. The EPIC Amicus Project seeks to educate courts about important dimensions of emerging privacy and civil liberties issues that might otherwise be overlooked by the parties. The EPIC Public Voice Project supports public participation inn decisions concerning the future of the Internet.

EPIC hires outstanding staff, works with distinguished experts, selects strategically campaigns and cases, and maintains high ethical standards. EPIC develops program areas that are complimentary to maximize impact and minimizes duplications. EPIC seeks to engage the public and policymakers so that there are meaningful outcomes and significant results. EPIC carefully selects issues and cases, but once a project is chosen EPIC will vigorously pursue a successful outcome. And EPIC will constantly evaluate outcomes.

We have an outstanding staff, an engaged group of expert advisors, a strong online presence, a network of colleagues and allies, genuine independence, and a reputation for success. The EPIC Staff consists of lawyers who are certified to practice before most of the federal appellate courts in the United States, a dozen state courts, and the US Supreme Court. EPIC attorneys often speak at judicial conferences in the United States and around the world. EPIC attorneys have received awards and recognition, from the American Bar Foundation, the American Jurist, American Lawyer, LawDragon, Who's Who, and the World Technology Network. The EPIC Advisory Board includes many of the leading technologist, scholars, and public policy experts in the privacy field. The EPIC Advisory Board includes winners of the Turing Award (computer science), the Thurgood Marshall Award (law), the Norbert Wiener Award (computers and ethics), and the MacArthur Fellows Award. EPIC works with wonderful allies and colleagues around the world, small NGOs, established leaders, and subject matter experts who give of their time and energy to help support the work of EPIC. EPIC does not take corporate funding or government grants. EPIC relies on the support of individual donors and foundations that believe the defense of privacy is critical and that support EPIC's mission. As a consequence, EPIC is able to pursue its mission vigorously and effectively and not be sidelined by financial considerations unrelated to its purpose.

EPIC considers a wide range of factors to evaluate success. Here are a few recent highlights:Public Education - The EPIC website "epic. org" is ranked #3 in the United States for a search on "privacy" (2015)Policy Impact - EPIC was ranked #16 among the most influential think tanks in the United States (2015)Litigation Success - EPIC has prevailed in more Freedom of Information Act cases than any other organization in the United States (2015)Publications - EPIC has published many of the leading books in the privacy fieldSupport for Others - EPIC is committed to support the work of other NGOs in the privacy field and routinely contributes 5% of income to other NGOsProgram Efficiency - EPIC devotes approximately 88% of income to program activity

What we need to do:(1) Enact a comprehensive framework for privacy protection,(2) Ensure the widespread availability of Privacy Enhancing Techniques ("PETs") that minimize or eliminate the collection of personally identifiable information,(3) Establish a Constitutional right to information privacy(4) Promote Data Protection, one of the most important, least well understood issue of the 2016 election(5) Ensure "algorithmic transparency" for robots, AIs, and other autonomous processes with decision making power over humans