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JANUARY NEWSLETTER  

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Strengthening Democracy in the U.S.

At CDT, we believe in the importance of accessible, fair, secure, and trustworthy elections, and that governments, civil society, traditional media, social media, and end users can come together to protect democratic values. That’s why — a year after a disinformation-fueled assault on democracy culminated in an attack on the U.S. Capitol — we’ve identified several solutions ([link removed]) that could strengthen democracy in the U.S. Our “boosters for democracy” are rooted in a CDT report ([link removed]) that examined the parallels in election disinformation between the U.S., Brazil, and France.

To address the viral spread of disinformation and calls for political violence, election officials can put out trusted information that “pre-bunks” false narratives, and social media companies can enhance our understanding of how disinformation spreads by improving researcher access to social media data.

Certification processes or national standards for post-election audits can help identify and prevent sham audits that undermine trust in elections, and federal legislation can require federal approval for certain changes to voting laws, bar unjustified voting restrictions, and restrict the ability to arbitrarily remove election administrators.

The U.S. House Select Committee investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol can also help by ensuring that the methods it uses in its important investigation ([link removed]) are designed to preserve democratic values. In a recent blog post ([link removed]), CDT urged the Committee to exercise restraint in seeking information from journalists, in order to protect the First Amendment activities of reporters. CDT also urged the Committee to refrain from seeking to compel disclosure of communications content or location information from communications service providers. The Committee’s conduct could set precedent for other politically-charged congressional investigations in the future, so it should proceed with appropriate restraint.

In Case You Missed It

Across the country, states are struggling to manage the large volume of both legitimate and fraudulent applications for unemployment benefits. In a blog post ([link removed]), we explore how the Department of Labor and state agencies can introduce measures that will make it harder for attackers to commit fraud, without undermining the ability of legitimate users to straightforwardly obtain benefits.

Long-time CDT-er Alan Davidson was confirmed by the Senate to lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, at a time when the agency's work to advance digital equity is at its most vital. Congratulations, Alan!

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently inquired into six Big Tech companies’ payment systems, with the goal of better understanding and potentially pursuing rulemaking pertaining to the companies’ payment data practices. As the CFPB reviews the companies’ responses, CDT submitted comments ([link removed]) urging the agency to examine the companies’ approaches to user privacy, and the risk of discrimination in consumer finance decisions.

In September, CDT and the rest of the Global Encryption Coalition (GEC) called on Belgian officials ([link removed]) to drop a requirement from a draft law for tech companies to build backdoors into their encrypted services. The effort succeeded ([link removed]), with the Belgian government recently removing the obligation from the draft law. Our letter also successfully raised awareness among influential policymakers that “lawful access” by the government to end-to-end encrypted communications is a myth because it is impossible to implement without undermining the security of all users.

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CDT in the Press

CDT’s Elizabeth Laird joined NPR's 1A ([link removed]) for a conversation on remote learning and digital surveillance of students.

Greg Nojeim discussed the repurposing of health data with U.S. News & World Report ([link removed]): “We've seen in some countries, like Singapore, the collection of location information for the purposes of combating COVID made available…to law enforcement. So, it's fair to say that information that is being collected by some governments for the purpose of combating COVID is sometimes being used for criminal investigative purposes that the user of an app, for example, can't control.”

Regarding New York City’s recently passed bill on AI in hiring, CDT's Matthew Scherer told SHRM ([link removed]): "The New York City bill could have been a model for jurisdictions around the country to follow, but instead, it is a missed opportunity that fails to hold companies accountable, and leaves important forms of discrimination unaddressed.”

CDT "in Person"

On Wednesday, January 26, Protocol hosted a discussion on the future of tech regulation. Samir Jain, CDT’s Director of Policy, spoke on a panel about what lawmakers really hope to achieve, how tech companies are already responding to the threat, and what a realistic version of tech regulation might actually look like a few years from now. The event recording is available to view on Twitter ([link removed]) and LinkedIn ([link removed]).

CDT President and CEO Alexandra Givens joined the International Digital Accountability Council (IDAC) for a webinar ([link removed]) on mobile health apps and data privacy. Givens discussed how the IDAC’s recent investigation, which demonstrated how sensitive health data from mobile apps is sold and shared, underscores the need for privacy legislation and better protections for health data ([link removed]).

Last month, CDT, in partnership with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), hosted a webinar to introduce a newly released report and its findings on recent case studies of election disinformation in the U.S., Brazil, and France, as well as tactics for mitigating the problem. Learn more about the event and the “A Lie Can Travel” report on our website ([link removed]).

Have you listened to the latest episode of Tech Talk ([link removed]) yet? 2021 marked the twentieth anniversary of the Patriot Act, the perfect time for reflection and examination. Join former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, the lone “no” vote in the Senate against the Patriot Act, and Laura Murphy, who managed the ACLU’s Legislative Office in Washington, D.C. during the bill’s passage, in a discussion on what happened and where we are going.

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Staff Spotlight
Elizabeth Seeger, Communications Manager

How long have you been working in digital rights? About eight years now!

What is your proudest moment while at CDT? There have been a lot of them, but working on CDT’s lawsuit standing up against government censorship ([link removed]) in June of 2020 stands out. I’m also very proud of my colleagues’ work on the use of algorithm-driven decision-making in benefits determinations ([link removed]), and its particular harms on people with disabilities.

What is the most recent cultural activity you've been to? In November, I saw Ronald K. Brown’s EVIDENCE Dance Company at the Kennedy Center. It’s rare these days that I get to see live dance — *gestures at present world* — and I was so grateful for the opportunity, and energized by the performance! 

Cats or dogs? The answer is — without question! — dogs. Most people who know me are familiar with my love for Great Pyrenees. They are stubborn polar bear couch potatoes, and are practically perfect in every way. My parents rescue them, and I treasure every minute I get to spend with those sweet souls. 

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