Center for Democracy & Technology

30 years strong thanks to the support of our community! For the past three decades, the Center for Democracy & Technology has been at the forefront of defending civil liberties and advancing digital rights in an ever-evolving technological landscape. Since our founding on December 6, 1994, we’ve worked tirelessly to protect freedom of expression, privacy, and innovation online. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re so grateful for CDT’s founders, alumni, and the broad community that has shaped CDT’s journey and impact. Together, we’ve tackled some of the most critical issues in #TechPolicy, from free speech online to digital #privacy, and have been there for the defining moments in internet history: ? 1996: CDT led efforts against the Communications Decency Act and successfully argued before the #SupremeCourt in Reno v. ACLU. ? 2001: In the wake of 9/11, CDT stood strong, advocating for privacy and #CivilLiberties against the sweeping #surveillance provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act. ? 2004: CDT embraced the growing role of the internet in politics, launching Youth04, a grassroots campaign encouraging young voters to engage in the 2004 election.? ? 2009: As people shared ever greater portions of their lives online, CDT launched Take Back Your Privacy, a campaign to mobilize support for comprehensive federal privacy legislation and establish clear rights for consumers and clear rules for companies that collect personal information. ? 2013: In response to Edward Snowden’s revelations, CDT continued to push for legislative reforms to strengthen digital privacy and security. ? 2018: CDT helped establish the Santa Clara Principles to set guidelines for transparency and accountability in #ContentModeration on social media platforms—standards that continue to influence global tech policy. ? 2022: With the rise of #AI, CDT was at the forefront of policy efforts in the U.S. and EU to advance responsible, rights-respecting innovation – and launched the AI Governance Lab as a leading source of public interest technical expertise. CDT’s leadership in these and many other moments of tech history wouldn’t have been possible without the contributions of our incredible community. Thank you for your dedication and partnership over the years! Keep an eye out for more details on how you can stay involved as we celebrate our 30th Anniversary throughout 2025! cc: Jerry Berman, Nuala O'Connor, Lisa A. Hayes, Christopher Calabrese, Alexandra Reeve Givens, Ari Schwartz, Alan Davidson, Deirdre Mulligan, James Dempsey, Jonah Seiger.

NEW BLOG: From CDT’s Tom Bowman – reports suggest the U.K. secretly ordered Apple to undermine #encryption via a Technical Capability Notice (TCN). If true, this could force Apple to introduce backdoors, weakening global cybersecurity. The U.S. must act. Apple is fighting back, but in secrecy—bound by laws that prevent transparency. The U.K.’s push for backdoors jeopardizes millions, including vulnerable communities. #Encryption must be protected, not compromised. The U.S. has leverage: the US-UK CLOUD Act Agreement. If the U.K. won’t back down, the U.S. should reconsider this data-sharing arrangement. Privacy and security are at stake. https://lnkd.in/eEhpU_xU

CDT President & CEO Alexandra Reeve Givens, in IAPP: “The FTC is an independent agency for a reason: its independence allows it to enforce the laws and protect American consumers without favor.” CDT CEO Reeve Givens: “These political firings fly in the face of the Commission's bipartisan history and nearly 100 years of Supreme Court precedent. And it's consumers who will pay the price.” https://lnkd.in/ebVUgu4s

Last week, CDT joined a civil society letter opposing an industry-friendly privacy bill in West Virginia. The letter states the bill does not provide adequate protections for consumers, particularly around data minimization, targeted advertising, & enforcement. https://lnkd.in/eWt-JJnr H.B. 2987, in its current form, would do little to protect West Virginia consumers’ personal information, or to rein in major tech companies. The bill needs to be substantially improved before it is enacted: https://lnkd.in/eWt-JJnr

MUST READ: CDT’s Aliya Bhatia observes how online services are increasingly using machine learning to estimate users’ ages, from facial scans to analyzing browsing history. But what happens when these systems fail? A closer look at age estimation’s risks & hidden verification demand. Age estimation is marketed as privacy-friendly, but errors can force users to submit sensitive data like government IDs. This disproportionately impacts teens, trans & nonbinary users, people with disabilities, & those without easy access to ID. When age estimation fails, users must choose: give up more personal data or lose access to online spaces. Companies must ensure age assurance methods protect privacy & human rights for all users—not just a privileged few. https://lnkd.in/eU3svUQa

NEW REPORT: Public agencies are embracing AI to improve service delivery, but is AI always the right solution? CDT’s latest report, “To AI or Not to AI,” outlines a 4-step framework to help agencies assess whether AI is the best fit—or if alternatives should be considered. ?? Before adopting AI, agencies should: 1?? Identify priority problems 2?? Brainstorm all possible solutions 3?? Assess AI’s viability with an "AI Fit Assessment" 4?? Document & communicate decisions to the public. Transparency builds trust. Inappropriate AI use can waste resources & harm civil rights. CDT’s framework helps agencies make informed choices—ensuring AI enhances, not undermines, public services. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/er4yJ6tW

CDT submits comments to the DOJ explaining why proposed consent decree with major apartment landlord Cortland Management in RealPage algorithm-driven rental #price-fixing case is in the public interest. https://lnkd.in/eXRkt25f

Last week, CDT signed a letter urging Congressional leaders to oppose and investigate the President’s unlawful firings of the Democratic Federal Trade Commissioners. From the letter: “Without an independent FTC, corporations would face fewer barriers to exploiting individuals through practices like intrusive data collection and AI-driven manipulation.” https://lnkd.in/erRKk8Hk

Six weeks ago, CDT analyzed two lawsuits alleging DOGE’s access to federal administrative data violated privacy laws. Since then, 14 more lawsuits have surfaced, spanning 6 privacy statutes & 8 agencies. To break it down, we teamed up with The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights to create a fact sheet. Our new resource with Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights details key privacy protections, reported DOGE security incidents, the sensitive data at risk, & impacts of AI’s reported use on it. Transparency is the first step to accountability. Read more & stay informed: https://lnkd.in/eAhRdavE

Check out what we have been up to in March!