Washington, DC – Congress asked today in a committee hearing appropriately called "The Future of Border Security: Can SBINet succeed?" and the American Civil Liberties Union has a definitive answer: No. Even Department of Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff himself has admitted the program has problems, calling it "unsatisfactory."

Peter Schaar, Chairman of the Article 29 Working Party meet with the Privacy Coalition on Friday, October 19, 2007 from Noon-2:00 PM at EPIC's offices located at 1718 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC. In addition to chairing the Article 29 Working Group, Mr. Schaar is also the Federal Data Protection Commissioner and the Federal Commissioner for Freedom of Information for Germany. He is leading expert on European privacy law and a frequent keynote speaker at international conferences.

The September 28, 2007 meeting of the Privacy Coalition featured presentations by David Gersten Director of the Department of Homeland Security's Civil Rights and Civil Libertieis Programs, Robert Mocny, Director of the Department of Homeland Security's US VISIT Program. The meeting also featured presentations by Susan Hunkler a privacy rights activist, Jim Harrision Director of the Identity Project, Lew Motby President, Work Rights Institute and a discussion on Fusion Centers.

Director of US VISIT for the Department of Homeland Security spoke to the Privacy Coalition on September 28, 2007 about his program and privacy matters.

Director of the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Programs for the Department of Homeland Security spoke with the Privacy Coalition on September 28, 2007 about the development of DHS Civil Liberties Impact Assessment process.

The Privacy Coalition was briefed on the new Department of Homeland Security SSN No Match Letters; FISA Amendments, Medical Privacy, and the new Illinois Public School Biometric Privacy Law.