CDT’s U.S. Newsletter - July Edition


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JULY NEWSLETTER  

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Fighting Disinformation About Ballot-Marking Devices

The 2020 election was marked by conspiracy theories and disinformation about the U.S. election system, with some focused on the computerized systems used for casting and counting ballots. In Georgia, which replaced its paperless voting machines in 2019 with touchscreen computers that print out a paper ballot — called ballot marking devices (BMDs) — officials countered an array of mis- and disinformation about the new voting machines.

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Ballot-marking devices are widely used in U.S. elections for their accessibility and other benefits, but they have been generally criticized as posing serious security risks to elections. In a new report from CDT ([link removed]), we outline some of the key questions that are frequently raised about the security of BMDs, and make several recommendations for protecting elections in which BMDs are used, all with the goal of distinguishing legitimate concerns about BMD security from outlandish claims about election machinery.

Since BMDs are likely to be an important part of election infrastructure in the U.S. for the foreseeable future, we also look ahead to how BMD security might be enhanced in the long term, particularly as vendors begin implementing major updates to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s guidelines for voting systems.

In Case You Missed It

This week, CDT announced the formation of the Task Force on Protecting Reproductive Health Information ([link removed]), a multistakeholder group of experts representing major technology and telemedicine companies, academia, and reproductive rights and privacy organizations aimed at identifying ways to protect the privacy and access to information of people seeking reproductive health care.

“The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has created complex privacy, data, and content moderation issues,” said CDT President and CEO Alexandra Reeve Givens. “This task force will identify and discuss concrete steps companies can take to protect their users’ data, what policies can be put in place to support reliable reproductive health information online, and appropriate boundaries on law enforcement requests for data about providers and people seeking reproductive health care.”

CDT led more than a dozen civil rights and civil liberties advocates in urging the Senate Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees to fix problems with the Biden Administration’s proposed counter-drone legislation ([link removed]). The bill renews and expands authority for agencies to identify, monitor, and bring down potentially hostile drones, but dramatically expands the power to do so beyond legitimate safety needs, and removes the sunset system that ensures ongoing oversight of the still-evolving technology. Absent reforms, the proposal could open the door to drones being used by investigative reporters and protesters being brought down by law enforcement without any recourse.

As CDT Fellow Caroline Sinders wrote for our blog ([link removed]), the harms of misinformation and disinformation campaigns, and the tactics that create those harms, also exist in other domains of internet research including online harassment and harassment campaigns — and should thus be analyzed and labeled as the interlocking and overlapping issues that they are. Sinders noted that understanding the relationship between misinformation and harassment can lead to better understanding of harassment, more useful and grounded policies against it, and ultimately, faster and more effective ways to respond.

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CDT in the Press

CDT President and CEO Alexandra Reeve Givens joined Philadelphia public radio for a conversation on protecting digital privacy post-Roe ([link removed]). 

CDT’s Emma Llansó told NBC ([link removed]) that YouTube relies on automated content moderation tools that are “notoriously imprecise,” and that using such tools to search for content that doesn’t violate rules but could predict violence or terrorism would be difficult — and could aggravate certain biases in policing.

CDT’s Lydia X. Z. Brown joined Change Catalyst’s podcast ([link removed]) for a discussion on the impact of surveillance tech on marginalized populations, and how individuals and organizations should approach data privacy to protect everyone’s rights. 

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CDT "in Person"

Mark your calendars—Tech Prom ([link removed]) is back! Join CDT on Thursday, October 6, at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. for an evening of mixing and mingling with leaders in the tech policy space. Reserve your ticket or connect with our team about sponsorship opportunities now.

CDT and the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) hosted Democracy Affirming Technology: Restoring Trust Online ([link removed]), an event highlighting the consequences of malign information campaigns and how stakeholders can restore trust online. Taking place at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center (in-person!), the event featured speakers including CDT’s CEO Alexandra Reeve Givens, SIIA’s Jeff Joseph & Paul Lekas, Senator Gary Peters, Rep. Ro Khanna, and other senior government officials, and policy experts.

Last month, Alexandra Reeve Givens, CDT’s President & CEO, and Henry Claypool, CDT Fellow, joined the Ford Foundation in a conversation on Disability Justice in Technology Policy: Exploring the Intersections of Disability and Technology ([link removed]). The panel focused on the CDT report “Centering Disability in Technology Policy”, created in partnership with the American Association of People with Disabilities.

Last month, Lydia X.Z. Brown, CDT’s Policy Counsel, moderated a panel hosted by the Yale Information Society Project and Digital Interests Lab. The panel, Digital Divide, Culture & Intersectionality ([link removed]), focused on social groups and the different uses of technology, on the sociological aspects of internet access and use, and on the roles — both positive and negative — that societal structures and culture can play in shaping these experiences and their outcomes.

Partner SpotlightCDT is proud to partner with Public Citizen on our Elections & Democracy workstream, which aims to increase trust in elections. In particular, we are working to oppose the adoption of unverifiable and insecure internet voting technology in Washington, DC, where Public Citizen has worked in partnership with local groups for over a decade.

Public Citizen is a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that champions the public interest in the halls of power. They defend democracy, resist corporate power and work to ensure that government works for the people. You can learn more about their work on their website ([link removed]). 

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Staff SpotlightMaria Isabel Villamar ([link removed]), Director of Finance & Staff Operations

How long have you been working in digital rights? CDT is my first job in digital rights and I enjoy being on the ops team. It’s been a fascinating experience to be part of this group and gain a whole new perspective on the world of technology and the challenges that most of us don’t see.

What is your proudest moment while here at CDT? I love the people here. CDT has amazing, smart, and talented people. My proudest moments are when I get to talk to them as individuals and learn from their experiences. I love when I can make a difference in someone’s day by listening to them and being present for them.

What is the most recent cultural activity you’ve been to? I haven’t been to a cultural event lately, however, I am planning a vacation to Italy which will include Rome. As someone who was born and raised in a very Catholic community (Ecuador), I’m interested in visiting the Vatican and learning more about how religion has influenced our history, in addition to the art and architecture in the city. 

Cats or dogs? Definitely dogs. I love the more personal way they interact with us and I enjoy being able to share outdoor activities with them. As someone who needs to be active, dogs are a better match for me. I also find cats hard to understand, and I already have an 11 year-old child who is mysterious enough! 

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