30 Years Strong Thanks to the Support of our Community!
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For the past three decades, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) 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 tech policy, from free speech online to digital privacy, and have been there for the defining moments in internet history:
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1996: CDT led efforts against the Communications Decency Act and successfully argued before the Supreme Court in Reno v. ACLU.
- 2001: In the wake of 9/11, CDT stood strong, advocating for privacy and civil liberties against the sweeping surveillance provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.
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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.
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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.
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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 content moderation on social media platforms—standards that continue to influence global tech policy.
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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.
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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!
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CDT founding party (1995) with (L-R) CDT Deputy Director Daniel Weitzner, Rep.Don Edwards, and Senator Patrick Leahy, Executive Director Jerry Berman, and Deputy Director Janlori Goldman.
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| CDT staff at the Supreme Court during Reno v. ACLU (1997)
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📸 We want to hear from you! 📸
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As part of our 30th Anniversary celebration, we’d love for you to share stories, photos, or memories about CDT. Whether it's a milestone moment, a funny office anecdote, or a picture from past events, your contributions have been central to our mission and we’d love to highlight them.
Keep an eye out for a future email from us on how you can stay involved as we celebrate our 30th Anniversary throughout 2025!
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CDT staff & Board members (2024)
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