Crunch Time for TikTok and Americans’ Freedom of Speech

CDT’s Caitlin Vogus delves into why a nationwide ban in the U.S. on TikTok may violate the First Amendment and won’t protect users. Plus, a coalition letter from free speech and privacy organizations brings these issues to Congress.

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CDT and Technologists File SCOTUS Brief in Gonzalez v. Google

CDT and six technologists with expertise in online recommendation systems filed an amicus brief in Gonzalez v. Google. The brief urges the U.S. Supreme Court to hold that Section 230’s liability shield applies to claims against interactive computer service providers based on their recommendation of third-party content, because those claims treat providers as publishers.

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CDT and Technologists File SCOTUS Brief Urging Court To Hold that Section 230 Applies to Recommendations of Content. White document on a grey background.

ICYMI: Future of Speech Online 2022

At the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT)’s sixth annual Future of Speech Online event, “The Supreme Court’s Pivotal Term,” we explored the consequences of potential seismic shifts in this legal landscape. Watch the recordings for any of the event’s sessions below!

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Event graphic for The Future of Speech Online, hosted virtually from December 6-8, 2022 by CDT and Stand Together Trust. A dark blue, purple, red and green gradient background with technical glitching throughout; text and logos in white.

Coalition Urges WH to Ensure Federal Support for Local Police Isn’t Used for Abortion Investigations

A CDT-led coalition of 54 civil and human rights, civil liberties, and reproductive rights organizations published a letter today urging the White House to make sure that support given by federal law enforcement to local police is not used to investigate and prosecute abortions.

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CDT-Led Coalition Urges Administration Not to Allow Local Police to Use Federal Support for Abortion Investigations and Prosecutions. White document on a grey background.

New Research on How Disinfo and Online Abuse Hinder Women of Color Candidates

A new CDT Research study, based on Twitter data from the 2020 Congressional elections, finds that women of color candidates in U.S. elections encounter mis- and disinformation and the worst kinds of online harassment at higher rates than other candidates.

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Graphic for a CDT report, entitled "An Unrepresentative Democracy: How Disinformation and Online Abuse Hinder Women of Color Political Candidates in the United States." Illustration depicting a woman's leg in kitten heel stomping on malicious social media posts while casting a shadow of the U.S. capital building.

De-Weaponizing and Standardizing the Post-Election Audit

Post-election audits can be strongest way to generate public evidence that an election outcome was correct. But election deniers have weaponized post-election audits, calling for sham reviews that instead diminish confidence in elections. Our new report helps distinguish good post-election audits from bad ones & offers a path forward for improving post-election audits in 2024 & beyond.

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Graphic for CDT report, entitled “De-Weaponizing and Standardizing the Post-Election Audit.” A column of ballots is arranged in blue, green, and red, overlapping with scanline patterns in bright blue, purple, and teal. Black background, and white text and CDT logo.

Centering Disability in Technology Policy: Issue Landscape and Opportunities

Undertaken as a collaboration between the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) with the support of Freedman Consulting, this report is intended to help public interest organizations do more inclusive, effective work at the intersection of technology and disability issues in the United States.

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A joint report, by CDT and AAPD, entitled "Centering Disability in Technology Policy." Authors are Henry Claypool, Claire Carey, Alexander C. Hart, and Linnea Lassiter. Dark blue text on a white background.

Making Transparency Meaningful: A Framework for Policymakers

The term transparency is everywhere in policy debates. This paper sets forth a conceptual framework for transparency about practices that affect users’ speech, access to information, and privacy from government surveillance. It maps and briefly describes current and past efforts at transparency in four distinct categories.

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CDT report, entitled "Making Transparency Meaningful: A Framework for Policymakers." Large black text underlined with three wide gradients of soft purples, green / blues, and red – as if sunlight was reflecting through an open window.

Legal Loopholes and Data for Dollars: Law Enf. and Intel Agencies Buying Your Data from Brokers

This report between our Research + Security & Surveillance teams examines the concerning & rising practice of law enforcement & intelligence agencies sidestepping legal processes by obtaining data on Americans through commercial purchases from data brokers.

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CDT Research report, entitled "Legal Loopholes and Data for Dollars: How Law Enforcement and Intelligence Agencies Are Buying Your Data from Brokers." Orange and black text on a distressed, photo-copied paper background. Light blue scan marks run across the top of the image.

Our Work Has Never Been More Important

At the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), we believe in the power of the internet. Whether it’s facilitating entrepreneurial endeavors, providing access to new markets and opportunities, or creating a platform for free speech, the internet empowers, emboldens and equalizes people around the world.

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CDT’s 2021 Annual Report

In 2021 – at a pivotal time for democracy – CDT was at the forefront, advancing a tech policy agenda focused on equity and democratic values. Read more about how we took advantage of the year’s new beginnings in tech policy in our 2021 Annual Report.

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CDT's 2021 Annual Report. Photo collage - on top left, a couple sitting outside and enjoying something on their tablet. On bottom left, a person riding a train while taking a phone call on their cell phone. On top right, a masked election official working on election technology. On bottom right, a student smiles while they work amongst a group of other students at a computer lab.

90+


Number of organizations that sent a letter urging Apple to abandon its plans to build surveillance capabilities into its iPhones & other products. Read.

5


Number of email newsletters around bubbling policy areas like student privacy & equity, AI, and more. Sign up.

50.9K+


Number of lifetime plays of CDT’s long-standing podcast, Tech Talks. Listen.

1000+


Hours of pro bono support from our Collaborating Attorney Network. Join.

Who We Are

We are a team of experts with deep knowledge of issues pertaining to the internet, privacy, security, technology, and intellectual property. We come from academia, private enterprise, government, and the non-profit worlds to translate complex policy into action.

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Check Out CDT’S Podcast – Tech Talk

Tech is all around you – and now, insights on the tech policies that are shaping your digital world can be added to your podcast playlist. You can find CDT’s Tech Talk on Spotify, SoundCloud,  iTunes, and Google Play, as well as Stitcher and TuneIn.

Do the possibilities presented by an innovative, open, and free internet inspire you? Do you find yourself engaged in passionate discussions about privacy policies? Are you yearning to put your expertise to work on Internet neutrality legislation? If so, you might be a great fit for our team. View our open opportunities.

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