The right to privacy gives us the power to choose our thoughts and feelings and with whom we share them. It is the right to personal autonomy, to live our lives without undue government intrusion into fundamental personal issues and decisions. It is central to the realization of sexual freedom. Without the right to privacy the government would have a right to monitor and control our sex lives, our relationships, what we say (or do!) online, whether we use birth control or take Viagra, even what we read.
Privacy is the right to be let alone; to be free from being observed or disturbed by other people. The right to privacy also intersects with many other human rights such as freedom of expression, the right to seek, receive and impart information, and freedom of association and assembly.
Blog Posts
- New(ish) KOSA, Same Old Problems 2024
- Keeping Ourselves (and Our Data) Safe 2024
- California’s A.B. 3080 and Threats to Our Rights to Free Speech and Privacy 2024
- Digital Surveillance In the Wake of Dobbs 2024
- Age Verification Comes to Ohio 2023
- Our Right to Contraception and Our Right to Privacy 2023
- What PA SB 22 Really Means for Pennsylvanians 2023
- “Fetal Personhood” and Family Separation in South Carolina 2023
- The Horrible Reality of Abortion Rights in Georgia 2023
- Porn as a Human Right 2023
- Think about the KOSAquences 2023
- Protecting People from Digital Surveillance 2023
- Dear FDA… Approve Over-the-Counter Birth Control, Now 2022
- Abortion Access in Guam: Contending with Colonialism & its Devastating Consequences post-Dobbs 2022
- Denying Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth 2022
- Abortion and Family Separation 2022
- Criminalizing HIV 2022
- Censorship in Schools 2022
- Don’t Say Trans 2022
- Strippers on Strike 2022
- Censoring Nudity 2022
- Abortion and Section 230 2022
- Parental Rights 2022
- Woodhull Statement on Roe, Human Rights, and Sexual Freedom 2022
- The Right to Gender Affirming Care 2022
- Reaching Settlement in the City of Jacksonville 2022
- Texas’ Anti-Trans Directive 2022
- OnlyFans’ Banning of Porn and Reversal 2021
- FOSTA – Woodhull’s Fight against a Miserable Failure 2021
- The Dangers of the SAFE Tech Act 2021
- Section 230, the “Internet’s First Amendment” 2021
- What’s Happening with Woodhull Freedom Foundation vs. the United States? 2019
- Centering Sexual Freedom on Human Rights Day 2017
- Under Attack: Fighting Back Against Online and Real-World Harassment 2017
- Close Up the Internet and Repeal the First Amendment – Election Season is Here 2016
- Private Censorship – Fighting Suppression of Speech by Non-Governmental Actors 2014
- Human Rights & Anti-Censorship Groups Tell Senate to Stop the ‘Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation’ Act 2014
- Viewing Rights – The Constitutional Right to View Erotic Material 2014
- DMCA Evolution: Forum Solicits Input on Possible Changes to Notice and Takedown Procedures 2014
- Keeping Your Records Clean: Segregating 2257 Records under Federal Law 2014
- The Great Firewall of Britain 2013
- Unspoken Words: The Chilling Effect of NSA Surveillance Abuses 2013
- Criminalizing Online Innovation: State Attorneys General Seek to Amend Section 230 2013
- 2012 in Review: Internet Censorship & the Acronyms We Love to Hate 2013
- Petraeus affair reminds us how little is private 2012
- Canada’s Copyright Modernization Act: A Law With Global Impacts 2012
- What Terrorizes Americans Most: Guns or Sexual Freedom? 2012
- The Ends of the Earth – How Far Can U.S. IP Rights Holders Pursue Foreign Infringers? 2012
- Where Angels Fear to Tread – The Dangers of Asserting Unfair Competition Claims Involving 2257 Compliance 2011
- Reading the Tea Leaves? Discerning the Ultimate Fate of Section 2257 2011
- The end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” 2011
- Sexting Bill in Florida – We’re Almost There 2011
- Video Girl Barbie Kneels for Easy Shooting 2010
Summit Programs
Press Releases
- Woodhull Urges the Supreme Court to Find TX Age Verification Legislation Unconstitutional 2024
- Woodhull Tells Florida Legislators to Vote NO! on Age Verification Bill 2024
- Coalition of Human Rights Groups Organize Week of Action to Stop “Bad Internet Bills” 2023
- Woodhull Launches Petition to Block EARN IT Act 2022
- Civil Rights Groups Reinforce Legislators’ Demand for Google to Stop Endangering Abortion Seekers 2022
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Joins Human Rights Orgs, Files Amicus Brief Opposing Texas Social Media Law 2022
- Woodhull Announces Human Rights Commissions 2021
- OnlyFans Statement 2021
- The Sex Workers Human Rights Commission 2021
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Files Motion to Declare FOSTA Unconstitutional 2020
- Woodhull Wins FOSTA Appeal 2020
- FOSTA Appeal Moves Forward With Woodhull’s Statement 2018
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Appeals FOSTA Ruling 2018
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Files Lawsuit Challenging FOSTA 2018
- Woodhull joins civil liberties and human rights groups denounce illegal DHS social media monitoring 2017
- Is NBC Taking a Swing at Swingers? 2011
- Senate Hearing on Obscenity: Woodhull Calls for “Fair and Open Debate” 2005
Media Mentions
- Porn Is Protected Speech. Trump’s New Presidency Will Test That Sentiment. The Courts Can Uphold It. 2024
- EFF, Woodhull, TechFreedom File SCOTUS Amicus Supporting FSC in Texas AV Case 2024
- Deplatforming Puts Sex Workers at Risk, Study Says 2024
- Rights Groups Warn Senate-Passed Online Safety Bill ‘Makes Kids Less Safe’ 2024
- Senate Passes Child Online Safety Bills That Could Hurt LGBTQ+ Kids & Allies 2024
- How the American War on Porn Could Change the Way You Use the internet 2024
- Adult Site Broker Talk Episode 214 with Ricci Levy of the Woodhull Freedom Foundation 2024
- Tech Lobby Follows NY Playbook on California Social Media Bill 2024
- Inside Kids’ Online Safety Prospects Pre- Election 2024
- Freedom of Choice – Bound by the Cloak Podcast 2024
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Urges Florida Senators to Reject ‘Unconstitutional’ Age Verification Bill 2024
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund of NJ and Garden State Equality Call On State Legislature To Reject Restrictions on Internet Access 2024
- Proposed Porn Age Verification Bill in Ohio Raises Serious Civil Liberties Concerns 2023
- Artists Call on Congress to Stop “Bad Internet Bills” 2023
- Leading Digital Rights, Privacy Orgs Urge Immediate Action Against ‘Bad Internet Bills’ 2023
- 132 Rights Groups Warn EARN IT Act Threatens Online Privacy and Free Speech 2023
- Sugar Daddy Appreciation Day with Mandy Salley – DTF: Darryl & Timaree Fun Hour 2023
- Breaking The Stigma with Ricci and Mandy from Woodhull 2023
- Interview with Ricci Levy & Mandy Salley of the Woodhull Freedom Foundation 2023
- Woodhull Files New Reply Brief Challenging FOSTA 2022
- Petition To Stop Law Silencing Legal Sexual Expression 2022
- Woodhull Warns Against GOP’s New Anti-LGBTQ Censorship Bill 2022
- Woodhull Launches Petition to Block EARN IT Act 2022
- Woodhull Launches Petition to Block EARN IT Act 2022
- There’s No Way FOSTA Isn’t a First Amendment Violation, Says Lawsuit 2022
- SPLC Sends Letter Urging District to Withdraw Disciplinary Action Against CA Adviser 2022
- Sexual Freedom Summit: It’s about Males, Females, and X Controlling Their Bodies 2022
- CCIA Welcomes Support From Diverse Group of 38 Organizations and Experts in Continued Effort to Halt Unconstitutional Texas Social Media Law 2022
- New Woodhull Report Examines ‘Super Bowl Sex Trafficking’ Myth 2022
- Apple ‘Pauses’ Implementation of New Image Surveillance Tech 2021
- Woodhull Freedom Foundation Denounces Anti-Porn Campaign 2021
- Woodhull, EFF Issue Call to Action Against Apple iPhone Surveillance 2021
- Top Digital Rights Organization Highlights Woodhull’s Anti-FOSTA Litigation 2020
- Federal Court Hears Woodhull’s Appeal Challenging FOSTA 2019
Coalition Sign-Ons
- Coalition Letter Regarding Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for International Family Planning and Reproductive Health Funding and Policy
PAI
- Coalition Letter to the Senate Opposing the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)
Software & Information Industry Association
- Opposition Letter – CA SB 976 – “Protecting our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act”
Chamber of Progress
- PRESS Act Markup (S.2074)
Freedom of the Press Foundation
- Coalition Letter to Oppose Adding KOSA to the FAA Reauthorization Act
Chamber of Progress
- DELETE Act Endorsement Letter from 20+ Human Rights & Consumer Protection Organizations
- Human Rights & Consumer Protection Groups Call on the FTC to Launch a Do Not Call Registry for Data Brokers
- Joint Letter Calling on CVS and Walgreens to Protect Patient Privacy and Medical Records
- Maryland HB 603 Coalition Opposition Letter
Chamber of Progress
- Letter to AG Chris Carr
Freedom of the Press Foundation
- Opposition Letter to NJ’s A5750/S4215 Age Verification Bill
- 25+ Human Rights Organizations Call on 2024 Congress to Investigate Big Tech and Publishing’s Stranglehold over Digital Books
- Coalition Letter Opposing CA S.B. 680
Electronic Frontier Foundation
- Opposition to S.1207 EARN IT Act & S.1199 STOP CSAM Act
- Opposition to the Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act of 2023 (EARN IT Act)
Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT)
- Senate Floor Consideration of the Open App Markets Act (S.2710)
Tech Freedom
- Opposition to S. 3663’s Threats to Minors’ Privacy and Safety Online
Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT)
- Group Letter Urging Congress To Pass AICO & OAMA, Bipartisan Antitrust Bills To Rein in Big Tech
Public Knowledge
- Wood Hull Signs on to Letter on Sex Worker Pride Day to Human Rights Organizations Urging US Congress to Pass SAFE SEX Workers Study Act
Sex Workers Project
- Virginia Legal Action Threatens the Freedom to Read: Coalition Statement
National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC)
- Apple Needs to Protect Its Users
Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT)
- The Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act
Free Press
- Harms Done by SESTA/FOSTA and Section 230
- Zoom, Facebook AND YouTube Threaten Academic Freedom
National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC)
- In Opposition to The Online Content Policy Modernization Act
Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT)
- Eliminate EARN IT Act
Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT)
- Endorsement of the Safeguarding Americans’ Private Records Act of 2020
- Suspension of Facial Recognition Systems
Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)
- Against the PATRIOT Act Extension
Government Accountability Project