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FEBRUARY U.S. NEWSLETTER 

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Speaking Out Against Federal Demands for State Data 

In the wake of ICE violence against Minnesotans, the U.S. Department of Justice reissued its demand for complete access to Minnesota’s Medicaid, SNAP, and voter roll data. The demand was the latest move in an unprecedented federal effort ([link removed]) to consolidate individuals’ data held by various parts of federal and state governments.

CDT has tracked this effort since it began in early 2025, and continues to emphasize the threat it poses to privacy, security, and democracy. In a new piece for allies and lawmakers, we recently explained what’s happened ([link removed]) since this Administration took office, why people should care about the federal government consolidating their personal information, and what’s uniquely troubling about the events in Minnesota. 

The DOJ’s pressure campaign raises the stakes for states: state lawmakers characterized the letter as an extraordinary “ransom note” in light of the violence against Minnesotans around immigration enforcement activities. As CDT’s Elizabeth Laird noted to the Minnesota Star Tribune ([link removed]), the requested benefits information — which included addresses and phone numbers — could “become a catalyst for immigration enforcement.”

CDT President and CEO Alexandra Reeve Givens echoed those points, supporting a coalition of 22 state attorneys general that rejected DOJ’s demand ([link removed]): “The Administration’s demand for this kind of data, especially in light of the violent deployment of ICE against the wishes of state and local leaders, is particularly exploitative,” she said. “We’ve seen overblown and misleading claims of benefits and voter fraud since the first days of this Administration. But this demand seems more like coercion and states are right to reject it. It’s not just a threat to privacy, it’s a threat to our democracy itself."

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Sign for the Internal Revenue Service Office with an American flag in the background. 

The harms to privacy were illustrated earlier this month when it came out that the IRS improperly shared tax data with DHS under an agreement between the agencies, possibly violating taxpayer privacy rules. As CDT’s Tom Bowman told the AP ([link removed]), “Once taxpayer data is opened to immigration enforcement, mistakes are inevitable and the consequences fall on innocent people. The disclosure of thousands of confidential records unfortunately shows precisely why strict legal firewalls exist and have — until now — been treated as an important guardrail.”

Bowman told Newsweek ([link removed]), "This privacy failure is a stark reminder of why safeguards for sensitive data are so critical…. Our tax system depends on trust, particularly in the government, and failure to safeguard sensitive information eviscerates that trust. Treating these privacy violations as a bureaucratic hiccup ignores the reality that these errors can lead to detention, family separation, identity theft, and lasting harm to people who followed the law by filing their taxes.”

In the face of continued federal overreach, CDT will continue to engage forcefully on this issue and support strong legal safeguards for personal data.

In Case You Missed It

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Image of a blue ballot box on a light blue backgorund. With elections and democracy in white and blue text. 

— CDT announced a new nonpartisan initiative ([link removed]) to help election administrators defend election infrastructure against cybersecurity threats. The election security landscape has been reshaped ([link removed]) in the past year by budget cuts and policy reversals across the federal government; CDT’s work to rebuild cybersecurity and information sharing support will be essential to keep future elections secure.

— CDT, Americans For Prosperity, and the Software & Information Industry Association joined forces to urge U.S. House members ([link removed]) to oppose legislation mandating the use of age verification tools that would threaten the privacy, security, and constitutional rights of internet users. In our joint letter, we pointed to more effective and rights-protective, less intrusive alternatives.

— As Section 230 turned 30 this month, some lawmakers called on Congress to allow the landmark piece of legislation to expire. We explained how the law protects and empowers users ([link removed]) to speak freely and access information, but isn't a get-out-of-jail-free card for tech companies. We also discussed how it applies to emerging tech and policy areas like generative AI, competition, and products liability. In a world where powerful government actors are making clear their distaste for certain viewpoints and communities, we need the protections of 230 now more than ever. 

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Graphic for CDT AI Governance Lab. Black CDT logo alongside a black box and white text. 

— CDT’s George Slover testified before the Maryland Senate Finance Committee ([link removed]) on the Protection From Predatory Pricing Act. Slover argued that we need to rein in unfair and discriminatory “bespoke pricing” before it becomes widespread, in grocery shopping and elsewhere.

— CDT continues to tackle important topics in AI: recently, we wrote about the role insurance will play ([link removed]) in addressing the risks posed by AI systems, and the danger AI health tools pose ([link removed]) to user privacy. 

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Graphic for CDT's Spring Fling. Yellow and pink petals on a gray background with Spring Fling in pixelated green and blue text. 

CDT "In Person"

— Mark your calendars! CDT’s 2026 Spring Fling will take place on Monday, March 30th from 7:00-10:00 pm in Washington, DC. CDT’s Spring Fling brings together over 500 privacy and AI leaders from government, industry, and civil society for a celebratory night alongside IAPP’s Global Summit. Visit our event page to purchase tickets ([link removed]) and learn more about sponsorship options.

— On February 24, CDT’s Miranda Bogen and Ruchika Joshi appeared on a panel ([link removed]) to discuss their new report on responsible approaches to AI memory ([link removed]) at an event hosted by George Washington University’s Digital Trade and Data Governance Hub.

— On February 28, CDT’s Aliya Bhatia will be featured on a panel, “Platform Accountability, Content Moderation, and the Future of Trust & Safety ([link removed]),” at the Tech for Good conference.

— Don’t miss a new episode of CDT’s podcast Tech Talks, “Protecting Minors Online: A Transatlantic View on Platform Safety ([link removed]).” In this episode, we discussed how policymakers and platforms in the EU and US are trying to make online spaces safer for young people. 

CDT In the Press

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Alexandra Reeve Givens wearing a blue shirt while speaking at the India AI Summit.

— CDT CEO Alexandra Reeve Givens was quoted by Axios ([link removed]) and shared broader reflections on the India AI Summit: “India’s AI Impact Summit marked an important expansion from when we first gathered at Bletchley Park in 2023. The Summit placed a welcome focus on the Global Majority – and the very real questions of how AI adoption will work at scale… As these Summits have grown in scope and inclusion, they’ve focused less on deliverables. Next year’s Summit will be the 5th, and an important moment to assess what these summits are for. They must be more than a trade show, and different from inter-governmental fora. Can we combine the breadth of Paris & Delhi with renewed focus on concrete wins? Crucially, this should include revisiting the commitments already made – so Summits build on one another, with accountability, over time.”

— CDT’s Nick Doty discussed encrypted messaging with The New York Times’ Wirecutter ([link removed]): “Even with strong encryption, if the government gets access to your unlocked device or the device of someone you’re chatting with, or if they were able to join the group chat, they can access your messages,” Doty said.

— CDT’s Aliya Bhatia and CDT Non-Resident Fellow Aditya Vashistha published an op-ed in the Indian Express ([link removed]) around India’s AI summit, arguing that AI systems should be built with the local, linguistic, and cultural context required to make them meet the majority of global users’ needs. CDT hosted several official events before ([link removed]) and during ([link removed]) the India Summit on this issue, which was the subject of one of the Summit’s two actionable commitments.

— CDT’s Isabel Linzer spoke with the Boston Globe ([link removed]) about the rise of political influencers: “While on one hand they’re expanding the model of democratic participation ... there are times where creators can be a vector for foreign influence or undermine transparency when it comes to political speech or campaign finance,” Linzer said.

— CDT’s Kristin Woelfel was quoted by The 74 ([link removed]): “The fact that Amazon is reconsidering their relationship with Flock should be a very large and glaring sign that schools should also perhaps reconsider that relationship.” That school Flock cameras are being accessed by out-of-state police officers for immigration enforcement is “a really serious privacy issue for children and families” Woelfel said. “You have to think about what effect it’s ultimately going to have on the community. Even in places without Flock cameras, people are afraid to drop their kids off at school.” 

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Partner Spotlight

CDT is thrilled to partner with our new cohort of 2026-2027 non-resident fellows ([link removed]), who will collaborate with CDT staff through research, analysis, and public engagement. Our newest fellows are a group of issue area experts who will contribute their insights and expertise to CDT’s responses to emerging issues in technology policy in the United States and globally.

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Becca Shields, smiling in a black top in front of a CDT backdrop. 

Staff Spotlight

Becca Shields ([link removed]), Development and External Affairs Associate

How long have you been working in digital rights?

I have been working in digital rights since starting at CDT in late 2024 after a brief stint in the space during an internship in undergrad. As a development professional, it has been rewarding to return to the tech policy space and support our teams across the organization in all of the impactful work that they do.

What is your proudest moment while here at CDT?

My proudest moment at CDT was having the opportunity to support with planning for our 2025 Tech Prom. It was a pleasure to welcome everyone for the evening and see something that our team had worked on for many months come to fruition, especially seeing everyone enjoy themselves and make valuable connections within the tech policy space. 

What is the best book you've read recently? 

I recently read the book Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappe, and found it to be a fascinating look into the intersection between our food systems and environmental issues. It inspired me to think critically about making environmentally conscious food choices and incorporating more plant based dishes.

Cats or dogs?

Dogs for sure! My parents have a golden retriever named Cedar, and I love spending time with her at every chance I get.

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