Center for Democracy & Technology
@cdt.org
The Center for Democracy & Technology. Shaping technology policy and architecture, with a focus on equity and justice. @cdteu.org for our EU-based team.
https://cdt.org
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CenDemTech (@CenDemTech@techpolicy.social)
2.47K Posts, 232 Following, 532 Followers · The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT). Shaping technology policy and architecture, with a focus on equity and justice. https://cdt.org
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With Section 702 set to expire in three months, Congress has a critical chance to close the “backdoor search” loophole that lets agencies read Americans’ private messages without a warrant. CDT's Jake Laperruque details why years of abuse make reform urgent.
Will Congress Seize the Opportunity to Fix FISA in 2026?
In approximately three months a controversial warrantless surveillance authority — Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Act Surveillance (“FISA 702”) — is set to expire. This moment offers a chance to enact critical privacy protections, and close the door on persistent surveillance abuses that have harmed Americans. FISA 702 was enacted in 2008 amid Congress’ […]
cdt.org
February 9, 2026 at 8:45 PM
With Section 702 set to expire in three months, Congress has a critical chance to close the “backdoor search” loophole that lets agencies read Americans’ private messages without a warrant. CDT's Jake Laperruque details why years of abuse make reform urgent.
We’re excited to announce CDT’s Spring Fling 2026 — our annual celebration supporting civil rights & civil liberties in the digital age. 🌸 Join 500+ privacy & AI leaders from government, industry, and civil society for a memorable night alongside IAPP’s Global Summit. cdt.org/event/2026-s...
February 9, 2026 at 7:12 PM
We’re excited to announce CDT’s Spring Fling 2026 — our annual celebration supporting civil rights & civil liberties in the digital age. 🌸 Join 500+ privacy & AI leaders from government, industry, and civil society for a memorable night alongside IAPP’s Global Summit. cdt.org/event/2026-s...
Automated Trust & Safety (T&S) tools too often perform poorly in widely spoken, low-resource languages. CDT convened four roundtables with AI experts & data annotators to dig into why — and how to build tools that work equitably for all users, not just English speakers. cdt.org/insights/bet...
February 9, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Automated Trust & Safety (T&S) tools too often perform poorly in widely spoken, low-resource languages. CDT convened four roundtables with AI experts & data annotators to dig into why — and how to build tools that work equitably for all users, not just English speakers. cdt.org/insights/bet...
Section 230 turns 30 this week — and the stakes for online free expression have never been higher. As some lawmakers move to restrict speech, 230 remains a safeguard so people can speak and organize without platforms being pressured to shut them down. cdt.org/insights/sec...
February 8, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Section 230 turns 30 this week — and the stakes for online free expression have never been higher. As some lawmakers move to restrict speech, 230 remains a safeguard so people can speak and organize without platforms being pressured to shut them down. cdt.org/insights/sec...
CDT’s Tom Bowman shows how shield laws are rapidly evolving — w/ states expanding protections to cover more providers, health data intermediaries, & gender-affirming care, while strengthening privacy & enforcement measures amid growing data risks & use of telehealth.
Shield Laws in Flux: State Protections for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Data in an Era of Interstate Conflict
Introductionuction" class="toc-anchor">Introduction In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022), the legal landscape for reproductive and gender-affirming health care continues to develop rapidly. While many states have enacted laws restricting or criminalizing care, others have adopted “shield laws” designed to protect patients, providers, and intermediaries from out-of-state […]
cdt.org
February 6, 2026 at 10:52 PM
CDT’s Tom Bowman shows how shield laws are rapidly evolving — w/ states expanding protections to cover more providers, health data intermediaries, & gender-affirming care, while strengthening privacy & enforcement measures amid growing data risks & use of telehealth.
CDT’s George Slover: "This important legislation helps ensure that in the Age of Technology, consumers still have the basic right they have enjoyed for centuries -- the right to choose where and how we fix what we own.” #FairRepairAct
REPRESENTATIVE MORELLE, SENATOR LUJÁN INTRODUCE FAIR REPAIR ACT
(Washington, D.C.)—Today, Congressman Joe Morelle and Senator Ben Ray Luján introduced the Fair Repair Act, legislation to guarantee consumers and small businesses a right to repair their own products by requiring manufacturers to make diagnostic repair information, parts, and tools readily available.
morelle.house.gov
February 6, 2026 at 9:23 PM
CDT’s George Slover: "This important legislation helps ensure that in the Age of Technology, consumers still have the basic right they have enjoyed for centuries -- the right to choose where and how we fix what we own.” #FairRepairAct
“But the benefits information, which includes up-to-date addresses and phone numbers, could help the government identify undocumented people receiving assistance and ‘become a catalyst for immigration enforcement,’ said [CDT’s] Elizabeth Laird.”
Why the Trump administration keeps asking for Minnesota’s welfare data
Vice President JD Vance said the information could facilitate immigration enforcement. Legal experts say that’s a drastic overreach of federal power.
www.startribune.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:58 PM
“But the benefits information, which includes up-to-date addresses and phone numbers, could help the government identify undocumented people receiving assistance and ‘become a catalyst for immigration enforcement,’ said [CDT’s] Elizabeth Laird.”
We’re thrilled to welcome CDT’s 2026–2027 class of Non-Resident Fellows — a remarkable group of scholars and experts whose insights will strengthen our work defending civil rights, civil liberties, and democratic values in the digital age. cdt.org/about/fellow...
February 6, 2026 at 6:26 PM
We’re thrilled to welcome CDT’s 2026–2027 class of Non-Resident Fellows — a remarkable group of scholars and experts whose insights will strengthen our work defending civil rights, civil liberties, and democratic values in the digital age. cdt.org/about/fellow...
“The nonprofit CDT supports Section 230, arguing it protects users’ free expression. The group said in a post to its website a repeal could allow social media companies to be sued anytime speech on the platforms was thought to be illegal.”
Durbin, actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt and parents ask for social media companies to be held accountable
Feb. 4, 2026 is the 30th anniversary of Section 230. In December, Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Lindsay Graham introduced the Sunset Section 230 Act.
www.wqad.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:31 PM
“The nonprofit CDT supports Section 230, arguing it protects users’ free expression. The group said in a post to its website a repeal could allow social media companies to be sued anytime speech on the platforms was thought to be illegal.”
New from CDT’s Kristin Woelfel and Ridhi Shetty: At last month’s Building an AI-Ready America House hearing, CDT CEO Alexandra Reeve Givens testified on the need for strong transparency and guardrails as AI expands across schools and workplaces.
Six Takeaways from Education and Workforce Committee Hearing on Building an AI-Ready America
On January 14, 2026, CDT’s CEO Alexandra Reeve Givens testified at a hearing entitled, “Building an AI-Ready America,” hosted by the House Committee on Education and Workforce. Her full testimony is available here, but her overall message emphasized the need for transparency and guardrails as AI becomes more prominent in schools and the workplace in […]
cdt.org
February 5, 2026 at 7:02 PM
New from CDT’s Kristin Woelfel and Ridhi Shetty: At last month’s Building an AI-Ready America House hearing, CDT CEO Alexandra Reeve Givens testified on the need for strong transparency and guardrails as AI expands across schools and workplaces.
“That was the message at a Tuesday CDT panel that centered on CDT’s five core areas in the use and governance of AI, which include public transparency & stakeholder engagement, accuracy and reliability, governance & coordination, privacy and security, and legal compliance.”
Panel Discusses Responsible AI Implementation in Local Government
Hosted by the CDT, representatives discussed recommendations and examples in state and local government use of AI.
broadbandbreakfast.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:10 PM
“That was the message at a Tuesday CDT panel that centered on CDT’s five core areas in the use and governance of AI, which include public transparency & stakeholder engagement, accuracy and reliability, governance & coordination, privacy and security, and legal compliance.”
“Healthcare apps rolled out by AI firms are raising new privacy concerns in the absence of federal standards, according to the CDT, which urges the companies to limit the data they collect while warning consumers to carefully consider their uses of such tools.” insideaipolicy.com/s...
February 4, 2026 at 7:45 PM
“Healthcare apps rolled out by AI firms are raising new privacy concerns in the absence of federal standards, according to the CDT, which urges the companies to limit the data they collect while warning consumers to carefully consider their uses of such tools.” insideaipolicy.com/s...
“CDT found 53 bills were proposed regarding AI in education across 21 states last legislative session, ranging from advancing AI literacy, requiring the creation of guidelines around AI usage and cyberbullying, and prohibiting AI in certain situations.” thehill.com/homenews...
February 4, 2026 at 6:14 PM
“CDT found 53 bills were proposed regarding AI in education across 21 states last legislative session, ranging from advancing AI literacy, requiring the creation of guidelines around AI usage and cyberbullying, and prohibiting AI in certain situations.” thehill.com/homenews...
Anthropic’s announcement that it won’t incorporate ads into Claude engages honestly with the fact that advertising can cultivate deeply perverse incentives, even when platforms claim otherwise.
Exclusive | Anthropic Takes Aim at OpenAI’s ChatGPT in Super Bowl Ad Debut
Chatbot wars are heating up, with Anthropic’s Claude highlighting the potential frustration of ads in ChatGPT.
www.wsj.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Anthropic’s announcement that it won’t incorporate ads into Claude engages honestly with the fact that advertising can cultivate deeply perverse incentives, even when platforms claim otherwise.
Reposted by Center for Democracy & Technology
"There are many good places for advertising. A conversation with Claude is not one of them." www.anthropic.com/news/claude-...
Claude is a space to think | Anthropic
Anthropic explains why Claude will remain ad-free—how advertising incentives conflict with building a genuinely helpful AI assistant users can trust.
www.anthropic.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:16 PM
"There are many good places for advertising. A conversation with Claude is not one of them." www.anthropic.com/news/claude-...
Reposted by Center for Democracy & Technology
Anthropic’s announcement that it won’t incorporate ads into Claude engages honestly with the fact that advertising can cultivate deeply perverse incentives, even when platforms claim otherwise.
February 4, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Anthropic’s announcement that it won’t incorporate ads into Claude engages honestly with the fact that advertising can cultivate deeply perverse incentives, even when platforms claim otherwise.
Reposted by Center for Democracy & Technology
The choices that advanced AI companies make today about how they’ll cover the mind-boggling costs they are taking on to build AI systems will inevitably shape the systems themselves. That could have an enormous impact on our world for decades to come.
February 4, 2026 at 3:16 PM
The choices that advanced AI companies make today about how they’ll cover the mind-boggling costs they are taking on to build AI systems will inevitably shape the systems themselves. That could have an enormous impact on our world for decades to come.
Reposted by Center for Democracy & Technology
For deeper analysis on AI advertising and other business models, check out @cdt.org’s recent report Risky Business: Advanced AI Companies’ Race for Revenue cdt.org/insights/ris...
Risky Business: Advanced AI Companies’ Race for Revenue
Companies developing advanced AI find themselves at a critical juncture. Some have transformed from research labs to product companies, others from social media platforms and internet giants to compet...
cdt.org
February 4, 2026 at 3:16 PM
For deeper analysis on AI advertising and other business models, check out @cdt.org’s recent report Risky Business: Advanced AI Companies’ Race for Revenue cdt.org/insights/ris...
Tressie McMillan Cottom delivers an important wake-up call on the urgent need to enact strong protections for personal data -- and the world we could face without them.
Opinion | ICE Is Watching You
ICE knows that it cannot shoot us all. But the Department of Homeland Security is close to being able to track us all.
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Tressie McMillan Cottom delivers an important wake-up call on the urgent need to enact strong protections for personal data -- and the world we could face without them.
“Yet the reality is that 85% of teachers and 86% of students across the country used AI at some level during the 2024-25 school year, according to a study by the Center for Democracy and Technology.”
The Risks and Rewards of AI in School: What to Know
Brookings Institution's report details the best ways to minimize risk and utilize benefits of AI for students.
www.edweek.org
February 3, 2026 at 8:55 PM
“Yet the reality is that 85% of teachers and 86% of students across the country used AI at some level during the 2024-25 school year, according to a study by the Center for Democracy and Technology.”
As Section 230 turns 30, its core purpose has never been more vital. At a moment when powerful actors seek to define protestors terrorists & criminalize speech, Section 230 remains essential to protecting free expression online.
Section 230 at 30: We Need It Now More than Ever
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was signed into law 30 years ago this week. Buried within that landmark piece of legislation was an, at the time, obscure provision protecting the freedom of expression online. For 30 years, Section 230 has served as protective armor for internet users of every stripe, ensuring they can build communities […]
cdt.org
February 3, 2026 at 7:30 PM
As Section 230 turns 30, its core purpose has never been more vital. At a moment when powerful actors seek to define protestors terrorists & criminalize speech, Section 230 remains essential to protecting free expression online.
“‘But the benefits information, which includes up-to-date addresses and phone numbers, could help the govt identify undocumented people receiving assistance and ‘become a catalyst for immigration enforcement,’ said [CDT’s] Elizabeth Laird.” www.startribune.com/...
February 3, 2026 at 5:52 PM
“‘But the benefits information, which includes up-to-date addresses and phone numbers, could help the govt identify undocumented people receiving assistance and ‘become a catalyst for immigration enforcement,’ said [CDT’s] Elizabeth Laird.” www.startribune.com/...
Reposted by Center for Democracy & Technology
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This certainly doesn't seem good, especially as the FTC holds a workshop on age verification...
www.404media.co/app-for-quit...
#AgeVerifyFTC
#Privacy
#COPPA
www.404media.co/app-for-quit...
#AgeVerifyFTC
#Privacy
#COPPA
App for Quitting Porn Leaked Users' Masturbation Habits
Hundreds of thousands of users told the app intimate details about their sexual urges, which are now exposed.
www.404media.co
January 28, 2026 at 2:13 PM
👇
Reposted by Center for Democracy & Technology
FTC Commissioner Meador notes that AI and ML can help online services estimate users' ages using their patterns of use. We've argued that that's experimental at best, and will restrict *many* users from accessing online services and their rights at worst #AgeVerifyFTC: cdt.org/insights/age...
Age Estimation Requires Verification for Many Users
Online services can now guess a user’s age with as little as a selfie or a phone number, according to leading age assurance providers. Age estimation providers in particular claim their processes are ...
cdt.org
January 28, 2026 at 3:57 PM
FTC Commissioner Meador notes that AI and ML can help online services estimate users' ages using their patterns of use. We've argued that that's experimental at best, and will restrict *many* users from accessing online services and their rights at worst #AgeVerifyFTC: cdt.org/insights/age...
“‘Unfortunately, DOJ, for a second year in a row, seems to have repeated many of the shortcomings we saw last year — primarily that’s their complete lack of any reporting about their implementation of risk management practices,’ said [CDT’s] Quinn Anex-Ries.”
FBI expands AI-powered biometric, facial recognition capabilities, inventory shows | FedScoop
In the past year, the Department of Justice division has added 31 new AI use cases with nearly half enabling law enforcement activities.
fedscoop.com
February 2, 2026 at 8:36 PM
“‘Unfortunately, DOJ, for a second year in a row, seems to have repeated many of the shortcomings we saw last year — primarily that’s their complete lack of any reporting about their implementation of risk management practices,’ said [CDT’s] Quinn Anex-Ries.”