CDT Leadership Team Welcomes Samir Jain and Ari Goldberg

This week, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) is pleased to welcome to the team Samir Jain as Director of Policy, leading the organization’s policy advocacy, and Ari Goldberg as Director of Communications, leading CDT’s communications strategy.

Jain was most recently a partner at the law firm Jones Day, specializing in cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection, and has 25 years of experience in senior roles in government and private practice working at the forefront of technology law, policy, and regulation. Goldberg joins CDT from the Bipartisan Policy Center, where he was the Media Relations Director, and brings over 15 years of experience in communications, advocacy, and government.

“I am thrilled that Samir and Ari are joining CDT at this pivotal time, to help us lead the way in advocating for a more equitable, democratic digital world,” said CDT President & CEO Alexandra Givens. “Samir’s deep experience across a wide variety of technology policy topics, and Ari’s wealth of experience in strategic communications around democracy and human rights, will serve CDT well as we continue to fight for digital rights across the policy landscape.”

Jain served in the Obama Administration as Associate Deputy Attorney General at the Department of Justice and as Senior Director for Cybersecurity Policy for the National Security Council. He started his career as a communications lawyer, and as the internet emerged, played a lead role in litigation establishing that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act generally immunizes social media and other online services from liability for third-party content. He holds a B.S. from Stanford University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

“I look forward to leading CDT’s policy teams at the intersection of technology and democracy,” said Jain. “CDT has been an important player in the space since the early days of the commercial internet, and continues to lead the way in advocating for policies that protect rights in the digital world’s next chapter.”

Goldberg previously served as Communications Director for CARE USA and the Project on Government Oversight, and as U.S. Press Secretary for the ONE Campaign. Early in his career, Goldberg worked as a reporter and producer for BBC News, and served as press secretary for U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York. Goldberg holds a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and a M.Phil from Cambridge University.

“I am excited to tackle issues at the intersection of the digital revolution, democracy, and human rights, and to advance CDT’s mission of promoting democratic values by shaping technology policy and architecture,” said Goldberg. “CDT’s expertise runs deep, making it a leading voice in these important international conversations.”