It's-a-me, Julie Lee


I'm the Technology for Liberty Fellow at the ACLU of Massachusetts, where I work on issues like surveillance technologies, policing and algorithmic harms.

I oversee the Data for Justice project, publishing data-driven accountability stories and crafting interactive visualizations.

Previously, I was a postdoctoral researcher, studying reinforcement learning and decision-making using computational methods. I have a PhD in neuroscience from University College London.

May 21, 2025 — The Data for Justice Project

Boston Police Department has 1,300+ surveillance cameras at their disposal. I analyzed how these cameras being used and where they are deployed.

Data visualization Scrollytelling
January 13, 2025 — The Data for Justice Project

In anticipation of the new administration, I archived hundreds of tech policy documents from government websites, including executive orders, FTC complaints, spreadsheets and blogposts.

Web scraping APIs
June 24, 2024 — The Data for Justice Project

I analyzed records from the FAA to see which Massachusetts government agencies were using drones, finding that many models were prone to crashes. I also updated the dashboard to have more functionality.

Public records Data visualization Dashboard
April 8, 2024 — The Data for Justice Project

I conducted the largest analysis of Boston's ShotSpotter system to date, spurring a letter from Senator Markey, Senator Warren and Representative Pressley to the DHS Office of the Inspector General.

Public records Data visualization NLP
February 28, 2024 — The Data for Justice Project

I wrote an explainer on how location data can be de-anonymized from just a few data points, referencing peer-reviewed academic research on privacy bounds.

Explainer Location data brokers
January 16, 2024 — The Data for Justice Project

I analyzed eviction rates to support a proposed bill in the Massachusetts state legislature that sought to expand access to counsel in housing cases.

Data visualization Housing
Our Digital Lives Are Too Fragile
December 26, 2023 — Slate

Evernote killed its free tier, and I missed a coworker's birthday drinks trying to salvage my notes. Based on that experience, I wrote an essay on the fragility of our digital lives in the modern age.

Opinion Digital ownership
July 18, 2023 — S.T.O.P. Research Reports

I researched ways in which out-of-state heathcare seekers could be surveilled through different forms of transportation and accommodation choices, writing this report with a large team of collaborators.

Report Surveillance Reproductive healthcare
ChatGPT for therapy? Houston, we have a problem
October 20, 2023 — VISIBLE magazine

I wrote an op-ed on why ChatGPT shouldn't be used for therapy. This piece was drafted through the Public Voices Fellowship on Technology in the Public Interest, an initiative of The OpEd Project

Opinion Mental health Artificial intelligence
POV: NYPD’s robodogs are being paid for in the shadiest way possible
May 11, 2023 — Fast Company

After Mayor Adams purchased a robot police dog with $750,000 in asset forfeiture funds, I wrote this op-ed to explain how police use these funds to buy surveillance techologies, dodging procurement oversight.

Opinion Policing Surveillance