NACCHO360
Over the past year, threats to public health, fundamental rights, and the human dignity of marginalized people in the United States have been marked by surveillance, policing, and the weaponization of data. The Trump administration has paired arrests, militarized policing, and mass deportations with efforts to harness personal data for political ends—but the foundations of this strategy long predate 2025.
For too long, inadequate safeguards and porous boundaries around sensitive health information have fueled medical mistrust and undermined public health. At the same time, the lines between public health and policing remain dangerously blurred. Confronting these challenges requires a clear understanding of the laws governing health data, along with practical strategies to better protect marginalized and overpoliced communities.
In this virtual discussion presented at NACCHO360, advocates unpack the evolving legal and policy landscape and draw lessons from the HIV decriminalization movement to examine public health policy across sectors. The panel explores federal and state privacy laws, the consequences of allowing health data to flow into criminal legal systems, and organizing strategies for securing stronger protections.
Moderated by CHLP Policy and Advocacy Manager Amir Sadeghi, the panel features:
– Allie Bohm, Senior Policy Counsel, New York Civil Liberties Union
– Christine Mitchell, Health Instead of Punishment Program Director, Health In Partnership
– Kenyon Farrow, Strategic Communications Director, California Faculty Association
– Sara Geoghegan, Consumer Privacy Project Director and Senior Counsel, Electronic Privacy Information Center
What We Do Now: Data Privacy and Public Health in the Authoritarian Police State situates HIV justice within the broader movement for privacy, public health, and freedom from criminalization. NACCHO360 is the largest annual gathering of local health department leaders and public health professionals in the United States, hosted by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). It provides a forum to learn best practices, share research, and network.
Watch the recording:
