The July 2021 Edition: CDT’s U.S. Newsletter


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JULY NEWSLETTER  

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Make Internet Freedom Part of Global Democracy Agenda

"We can't let cyber sovereignty — the idea that countries need to exert sovereignty over the internet within their borders — become a substitute for cybersecurity," write CDT's Chief Technology Officer Mallory Knodel and TunnelBear Community Manager Shames Abdelwahab in a new piece on OpenGlobalRights ([link removed]). "Now is the time to challenge cyber sovereignty and press for urgent protections to ensure people can communicate with one another and access the information they need to be safe, healthy, and informed."

Following President Biden's trip to Europe and meetings with G7 leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin last month, Mallory and Shames make the case for putting internet freedom at the top of the global democracy agenda.

They note that "restrictions to internet freedom have been accelerating globally, posing serious threats to human rights and safety." The global watchdog Freedom House has found an uptick in the number of governments seeking to censor news and information beyond their borders. Worryingly, many of them are using the global COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to justify the authoritarian crackdown on information they don't want published.

To combat this trend, Mallory and Shames call on policymakers to "empower the internet freedom movement through investment that reasserts the democratic principles of the global governance of the internet that centers people, builds alliances, and strengthens infrastructure." 

Read the full article here ([link removed]).  

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In Case You Missed It

CDT is pleased to welcome Sharon Bradford Franklin ([link removed]) as Co-Director of our Security & Surveillance Project. Sharon is one of America's most distinguished experts on protecting civil liberties and human rights in intelligence and law enforcement surveillance, detention, cybersecurity, and encryption. Among her many distinguished posts inside and out of government, Sharon was the Executive Director of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, an independent government agency responsible for ensuring that counterterrorism programs protect privacy and civil liberties.

CDT joined Upturn, the ACLU, the Leadership Conference, and other organizations in a letter calling for the Office of Science and Technology Policy ([link removed]) (OSTP) to prioritize civil rights and equity in the Biden Administration's AI and tech policy agenda. The coalition also called upon federal regulators to update their policy guidance and rules to ensure more equitable outcomes in tech-driven practices across hiring, credit, and housing. In particular, CDT worked with Upturn and fellow civil society and disability advocacy allies to urge the Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Department of Justice to proactively investigate hiring technologies, modernize auditing and hiring standards, and improve employer reporting.

King County, Washington, passed a measure ([link removed]) prohibiting the county's administrative offices and executive agencies from employing facial recognition technology or using information that derives from such technologies. The first such ban in the country, it reflects grown concern in the U.S. and abroad about the use of this technology because of its discriminatory impact and the threat it poses to anonymity and privacy. 

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CDT in the Press

Caitlin Vogus, Deputy Director of CDT's Free Expression Project, spoke with Buzzfeed News ([link removed]) about Donald Trump's recent lawsuits against Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. While the former President claims that his First Amendment rights have been violated by the suspension of his accounts on these platforms, Caitlin argues that in fact it is the exact opposite: "The First Amendment strongly protects the decision by these companies to make content moderation decisions."

Greg Nojeim, CDT's Senior Counsel and Co-Director of the Security & Surveillance Project, discussed the NSA's new Cybersecurity Collaboration Center with Bloomberg ([link removed]). While the Center is designed to coordinate with private companies in an effort to thwart cyberattacks in the U.S., the NSA's efforts to be more transparent should go beyond companies and extend to consumers, by sharing the nature of the information it is receiving from private companies. "It's important that people be able to trust that their communications data isn't being shared without their consent or without the legal process required by law," he said.

Lydia X.Z. Brown, CDT's Policy Counsel on the Privacy & Data Project, spoke with The Guardian ([link removed]) to discuss disability benefits determinations and the impact of AI. "The idea of a machine that is free of individual people's personal compunctions might seem appealing. However, what people forget is that when you trust a machine, you are always trusting the people who design the machine and the people who are using the machine to be acting appropriately, ethically, or responsibly." 

CDT "in Person"

CDT is pleased to announce Tech Prom: The Reunion on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 from 5:30pm - 10:00pm at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. Come learn more about CDT, discuss trends in tech policy, and network with policymakers, educators, civil society advocates, government representatives, corporate partners, and the interested public. If you are interested in joining us for Tech Prom, you can learn more here ([link removed]).

Alexandra Givens, CDT's President & CEO, spoke on the Privacy Leaders Panel as part of the Spokes 2021 Privacy Conference ([link removed]) late last month. She, along with other national privacy leaders, discussed domestic privacy concerns, privacy consumer experience, the next wave of privacy regulations, and advice for privacy teams addressing them. You can learn more about the panel and watch a recording here ([link removed]).

CDT's Elizabeth Laird spoke last month at the Connecticut Future of Tech Commission Town Hall: A Public Discussion on Advancing Innovations in Education ([link removed]). Held in response to discussions with the White House and the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to recommend a comprehensive tech policy agenda for the nation, discussion topics included creating equity of access and enabling lifelong and personalized learning. You can learn more about the Town Hall and watch the recording here ([link removed]). 

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Partner Spotlight

CDT was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Sherwin Siy on July 7th. A public policy lead at Wikimedia Foundation and previously a well-known advocate at Public Knowledge, EPIC, and FCC, Sherwin was a firm proponent of an open, accessible internet that works for users. Young, funny, creative, whip smart, and dedicated beyond words to the public interest values he championed, Sherwin was a cherished ally of CDT. He will be greatly missed. 

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Staff SpotlightJamal Magby, Partnership ManagerHow long have you been working in digital rights? Two amazing years so far. 

What is your proudest moment while here at CDT? Working with our Fellows. the opportunity to engage with so many passionate people has been invaluable.

What is your fandom? The Marvel Cinematic Universe. I'm so excited for the next Dr. Strange and Spiderman movies.  

Dogs or cats? Dogs of course!

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