How #Techprom Beat The #Snowquester

While CDT’s 2013 #techprom is now one for the storybooks, it was a great evening to network, glean insights from inspiring speakers, and to defy the #snowquester.

CEO Leslie Harris addressed CDT’s ongoing efforts to innovate, build expertise and expand our reach, taking a moment from her time on stage to recognize two key CDT milestones to becoming a global organization: CDT’s leadership role in educating and organizing global civil society about the ITU’s effort to expand its regulatory authority to the Internet, and the launch of our Brussels office.

Mozilla’s Mitchell Baker spoke about the company’s increasing involvement in tech policy, which is growing from a groundswell of interest within its developer community. Baker described the costs to innovation that stem from policies aimed at providing stability to the status quo, and noted that for many around the world, the status quo is not satisfactory.

Ambassador Eileen Donahoe, who represents the United States on the UN Human Rights Council, underscored the way the Internet and access to information enable the exercise of human rights across the globe, and called the HRC consensus resolution on human rights online “probably the moment of deepest meaning and satisfaction” during her work at the Council. Ambassador Donahoe highlighted the increased attention among governments around the world on questions of Internet governance, and called on everyone — industry, government, and advocates — to find more compelling arguments to preserve the open, interoperable, multi-stakeholder Internet.

And did anyone notice the Candy Bar? If not, here are a few photos from the evening to jog your memory. Until next year!