Becca Branum
@beccabranum.bsky.social
Deputy Director, Free Expression @cdt.org. Views my own. 🧀🏡💖
So excited to share @cdt.org's latest report, marrying my two great loves: free expression and campaign finance regulation! (Kidding - but only a little) cdt.org/insights/arc...
Architects of Online Influence: How Creators, Platforms, and Policymakers Shape Political Speech
[ PDF version ] A social media creator gave gifts worth tens of thousands of dollars to Donald Trump during a livestream ahead of the 2024 presidential election. A progressive influencer ranted in a v...
cdt.org
November 13, 2025 at 7:31 PM
So excited to share @cdt.org's latest report, marrying my two great loves: free expression and campaign finance regulation! (Kidding - but only a little) cdt.org/insights/arc...
Reposted by Becca Branum
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look on my works and let me know if you have any questions! 🤗
October 29, 2025 at 9:16 PM
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look on my works and let me know if you have any questions! 🤗
Reposted by Becca Branum
Researchers won’t stand by as their work is cordoned off by inequitable publishing. Gatekeepers need to get on board or be left behind. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
Civil Disobedience of Copyright Keeps Science Going
Creating and sharing knowledge are defining traits of humankind, yet copyright law has grown so restrictive that it can require acts of civil disobedience to ensure that students and scholars have
www.eff.org
October 23, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Researchers won’t stand by as their work is cordoned off by inequitable publishing. Gatekeepers need to get on board or be left behind. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...
Reposted by Becca Branum
🎭 TONIGHT: CDT’s free expression expert @beccabranum.bsky.social joins as a featured speaker at Theater Alliance’s Content with Your Content? — pairing the play Drink in Moderation with a conversation on how to make digital spaces safer.
📍 DC | 7:30 PM ET
🎟 Details: cdt.org/event/social...
📍 DC | 7:30 PM ET
🎟 Details: cdt.org/event/social...
September 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
🎭 TONIGHT: CDT’s free expression expert @beccabranum.bsky.social joins as a featured speaker at Theater Alliance’s Content with Your Content? — pairing the play Drink in Moderation with a conversation on how to make digital spaces safer.
📍 DC | 7:30 PM ET
🎟 Details: cdt.org/event/social...
📍 DC | 7:30 PM ET
🎟 Details: cdt.org/event/social...
Reposted by Becca Branum
VICTORY! In a win for student expression on campus, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals today overruled a lower court's decision, sided with FIRE’s clients, and blocked West Texas A&M University’s unconstitutional ban on drag shows.
August 18, 2025 at 8:32 PM
VICTORY! In a win for student expression on campus, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals today overruled a lower court's decision, sided with FIRE’s clients, and blocked West Texas A&M University’s unconstitutional ban on drag shows.
The NO FAKES Act is a veritable smorgasbord of platform governance and expression problems. Grateful to have smart thinkers like @daphnek.bsky.social lending their expertise to defend the rights of regular people who would be harmed by the bill. Congress can do better: cdt.org/insights/cdt...
August 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The NO FAKES Act is a veritable smorgasbord of platform governance and expression problems. Grateful to have smart thinkers like @daphnek.bsky.social lending their expertise to defend the rights of regular people who would be harmed by the bill. Congress can do better: cdt.org/insights/cdt...
Reposted by Becca Branum
The TAKE IT DOWN ACT is law. Compliance is the floor—platforms must invest the time and effort necessary to protect users and meaningfully respond to image-based sexual abuse, says CDT's Becca Branum.
The TAKE IT DOWN Act Is US Law. Platforms Must Do More Than The Bare Minimum | TechPolicy.Press
Platforms must invest the time and effort necessary to protect users and meaningfully respond to image-based sexual abuse, writes CDT's Becca Branum.
www.techpolicy.press
August 13, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The TAKE IT DOWN ACT is law. Compliance is the floor—platforms must invest the time and effort necessary to protect users and meaningfully respond to image-based sexual abuse, says CDT's Becca Branum.
Reposted by Becca Branum
Recent law grads — we're now hiring for legal fellows to begin in Fall 2025. Our First Amendment rights are under daily assault. I hope you'll consider applying to work with us at @knightcolumbia.org to push back.
knightcolumbia.org/page/legal-f...
knightcolumbia.org/page/legal-f...
| Knight First Amendment Institute
knightcolumbia.org
July 29, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Recent law grads — we're now hiring for legal fellows to begin in Fall 2025. Our First Amendment rights are under daily assault. I hope you'll consider applying to work with us at @knightcolumbia.org to push back.
knightcolumbia.org/page/legal-f...
knightcolumbia.org/page/legal-f...
I'm excited to share @cdt.org's newest report - Rapid Response: Building Victim-Centered Reporting Processes for Nonconsensual Intimate Imagery cdt.org/insights/rap...
July 24, 2025 at 6:15 PM
I'm excited to share @cdt.org's newest report - Rapid Response: Building Victim-Centered Reporting Processes for Nonconsensual Intimate Imagery cdt.org/insights/rap...
Reposted by Becca Branum
The government policing a company's viewpoint violates the First Amendment @jmiers230.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 2:43 PM
The government policing a company's viewpoint violates the First Amendment @jmiers230.bsky.social
Reposted by Becca Branum
GWU IDDP organized a Council to reflect on the comments submitted to NTIA’s Request For Comment (RFC) regarding Ethical Guidelines for Research Using Pervasive Data. Check out the findings here: iddp.gwu.edu/ethical-use-...
Ethical Use of Pervasive Data for Research | Institute for Data, Democracy & Politics (IDDP) | Columbian College of Arts & Sciences | The George Washington University
The IDDP Council for Pervasive Data Ethics - Next Steps for the U.S convened to chart a set of actions to advance ethical practices in computing research.
iddp.gwu.edu
July 22, 2025 at 5:07 PM
GWU IDDP organized a Council to reflect on the comments submitted to NTIA’s Request For Comment (RFC) regarding Ethical Guidelines for Research Using Pervasive Data. Check out the findings here: iddp.gwu.edu/ethical-use-...
There are more questions than answers about how courts will apply First Amendment precedent to cases involving AI, but I'm glad @cdt.org and @eff.org are lending their expertise to highlight the stakes for users. cdt.org/insights/cdt...
CDT and EFF Urge Court to Carefully Consider Users’ First Amendment Rights in Garcia v. Character Technologies, Inc.
On Monday, CDT and EFF sought leave to submit an amicus brief urging the U.S. District Court of the Middle District of Florida to grant an interlocutory appeal to the Eleventh Circuit to ensure adequa...
cdt.org
June 23, 2025 at 9:34 PM
There are more questions than answers about how courts will apply First Amendment precedent to cases involving AI, but I'm glad @cdt.org and @eff.org are lending their expertise to highlight the stakes for users. cdt.org/insights/cdt...
Had fun chatting with @samleecole.bsky.social about censorship, p*rn, and obscenity for this article. Prosecutors have more important things to do than officiating romcom plots and (no judgment!) egg-themed instagram accounts. Give it a read!
www.404media.co/egg-yolk-pop...
www.404media.co/egg-yolk-pop...
The Egg Yolk Principle: Human Sexuality Will Always Outsmart Prudish Algorithms and Hateful Politicians
Anti-porn laws can't stop porn, but they can stop free speech. In the meantime, people will continue to get off to anything and everything.
www.404media.co
June 4, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Had fun chatting with @samleecole.bsky.social about censorship, p*rn, and obscenity for this article. Prosecutors have more important things to do than officiating romcom plots and (no judgment!) egg-themed instagram accounts. Give it a read!
www.404media.co/egg-yolk-pop...
www.404media.co/egg-yolk-pop...
Reposted by Becca Branum
In case you wonder why some people who care about stopping so-called "revenge porn" *aren't* celebrating the passage of TAKE IT DOWN, @beccabranum.bsky.social does a great job of laying it out in this convo with @taylorlorenz.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVve...
The Take It Down Act Is a Free Speech Killer
YouTube video by Taylor Lorenz
www.youtube.com
May 23, 2025 at 9:04 PM
In case you wonder why some people who care about stopping so-called "revenge porn" *aren't* celebrating the passage of TAKE IT DOWN, @beccabranum.bsky.social does a great job of laying it out in this convo with @taylorlorenz.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVve...
Reposted by Becca Branum
"A growing recognition that women's pain should be treated" is one hell of a sentence.
A major medical group now recommends pain-blocking treatments for IUD insertion and other procedures amid a growing recognition that women's pain should be treated.
Doctors urged to treat pain for IUD insertion and other procedures
A major medical group now recommends pain-blocking treatments for IUD insertion and other procedures amid a growing recognition that women's pain should be treated.
www.npr.org
May 20, 2025 at 10:44 AM
"A growing recognition that women's pain should be treated" is one hell of a sentence.
Reposted by Becca Branum
Comments by @cendemtech.bsky.social @beccabranum.bsky.social say it like it is: USCIS social media surveillance plans enable viewpoint-based immigration enforcement and interfere with freedoms of expression and assembly cdt.org/insights/cdt...
CDT Opposes Trump Administration Initiative to Routinely Collect Social Media Identifiers from Applicants for Immigration Benefits
These comments were co-authored by CDT Intern Jacob Smith. Today, CDT submitted comments opposing USCIS’ initiative to routinely collect social media identifiers from applicants for a wide variety of ...
cdt.org
May 6, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Comments by @cendemtech.bsky.social @beccabranum.bsky.social say it like it is: USCIS social media surveillance plans enable viewpoint-based immigration enforcement and interfere with freedoms of expression and assembly cdt.org/insights/cdt...
Reposted by Becca Branum
On Lawfare Daily, Renee DiResta spoke to @maryannefranks.bsky.social, @beccabranum.bsky.social, and @adamconner.bsky.social about the TAKE IT DOWN Act, the first U.S. legislation to squarely target non‑consensual intimate imagery, and whether its mandate will protect victims or chill lawful speech.
May 6, 2025 at 1:59 PM
On Lawfare Daily, Renee DiResta spoke to @maryannefranks.bsky.social, @beccabranum.bsky.social, and @adamconner.bsky.social about the TAKE IT DOWN Act, the first U.S. legislation to squarely target non‑consensual intimate imagery, and whether its mandate will protect victims or chill lawful speech.
The Trump Administration's admonishment that visa and green card holders should behave themselves, lest USCIS punish them for "pos[ing] a threat to . . . our way of life" with their lawful speech, is as reprehensible as it is constitutionally indefensible. www.newsweek.com/trump-admini...
April 29, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The Trump Administration's admonishment that visa and green card holders should behave themselves, lest USCIS punish them for "pos[ing] a threat to . . . our way of life" with their lawful speech, is as reprehensible as it is constitutionally indefensible. www.newsweek.com/trump-admini...
Reposted by Becca Branum
For months, CDT has called on Congress to create durable, constitutional, and privacy-enhancing tools to empower victims of nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII). Instead, Congress will likely pass the TAKE IT DOWN Act today.
cdt.org/insights/ndi....
cdt.org/insights/ndi....
NDII Victims Deserve Help. Let’s Build an Effective Takedown System.
TAKE IT DOWN’s Solvable Problems href="#take-it-downs-risks-to-privacy" class="toc-anchor">TAKE IT DOWN’s Risks to Privacyo-free-expression" href="#take-it-downs-risks-to-free-expression" class="toc-anchor">TAKE IT DOWN’s Risks to Free Expressions-intersection-with-section-230" href="#take-it-downs-ambiguous-intersection-with-section-230" class="toc-anchor">TAKE IT DOWN’s Ambiguous Intersection with Section 230-from-important-provisions" href="#take-it-down-excludes-self-curated-sites-from-important-provisions" class="toc-anchor">TAKE IT DOWN Excludes Self-Curated Sites from Important Provisions#take-it-down-misses-important-threats-posed-by-synthetic-ndii" class="toc-anchor">TAKE IT DOWN Misses Important Threats Posed by Synthetic NDIINetworks (TAKE IT DOWN) Act. The bill […]
cdt.org
April 28, 2025 at 5:11 PM
For months, CDT has called on Congress to create durable, constitutional, and privacy-enhancing tools to empower victims of nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII). Instead, Congress will likely pass the TAKE IT DOWN Act today.
cdt.org/insights/ndi....
cdt.org/insights/ndi....
Reposted by Becca Branum
Leading us off, CDT CEO @alexreevegivens.bsky.social: “We’re convening this event because the U.S. is facing a crisis moment for the future of free speech."
"Who Will Fight for the First Amendment?" is happening now. Tune in LIVE! www.youtube.com/live/Zdczxmq...
April 24, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Leading us off, CDT CEO @alexreevegivens.bsky.social: “We’re convening this event because the U.S. is facing a crisis moment for the future of free speech."
Excited to help FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez kick off her First Amendment Tour @cendemtech.bsky.social tomorrow! www.insideradio.com/free/fcc-s-a...
FCC’s Anna Gomez Launches ‘First Amendment Tour’ To Defend Press Freedom.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez is launching a “First Amendment Tour” to spotlight what she sees as growing threats to press freedom under the Trump administration. Partnering with civil society groups,
www.insideradio.com
April 23, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Excited to help FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez kick off her First Amendment Tour @cendemtech.bsky.social tomorrow! www.insideradio.com/free/fcc-s-a...
Reposted by Becca Branum
From CDT’s @beccabranum.bsky.social: “Research on how technology impacts society is critical to holding powerful tech platforms accountable. Shielding companies from criticism by defunding research is censorship that should trouble all of us.”
Hundreds of researchers funded by the National Science Foundation had their grants and fellowships terminated late Friday afternoon.
Disinformation research was among the projects targeted, because it no longer "aligned with NSF priorities.” www.niemanlab.org/2025/04/nati...
Disinformation research was among the projects targeted, because it no longer "aligned with NSF priorities.” www.niemanlab.org/2025/04/nati...
National Science Foundation cancels research grants related to misinformation and disinformation
Hundreds of grants, fellowships, and awards were terminated because they are no longer "aligned with NSF priorities."
www.niemanlab.org
April 22, 2025 at 6:12 PM
From CDT’s @beccabranum.bsky.social: “Research on how technology impacts society is critical to holding powerful tech platforms accountable. Shielding companies from criticism by defunding research is censorship that should trouble all of us.”
Off to a great start @knightcolumbia.org's Symposium on AI & Democracy! Please join us:
📍EVENT: Day 2 of our “AI and Democracy” symposium will be kicking off shortly. Programming will begin with welcome remarks from George Deodatis @columbiaseas.bsky.social at 9:30am ET. #AIDemocraticFreedoms
Watch the full event on our livestream here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1gj...
Watch the full event on our livestream here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1gj...
Artificial Intelligence and Democratic Freedoms (Day 2)
YouTube video by Knight First Amendment Institute
www.youtube.com
April 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Off to a great start @knightcolumbia.org's Symposium on AI & Democracy! Please join us:
Reposted by Becca Branum
🚨 TOMORROW: Join CDT’s @beccabranum.bsky.social, Deputy Director of our Free Expression Project, at the @knightcolumbia.org symposium on #ArtificialIntelligence & Democratic Freedoms on Friday, April 11th! cdt.org/event/artifi...
Artificial Intelligence and Democratic Freedoms
Symposium Date: April 10-11, 2025 Symposium Time: 9:30 AM – 3:25PM EDT On April 10-11, 2025, the Knight Institute will host a symposium to examine the risks that advanced artificial intelligence systems pose to democratic freedoms, to discuss sociotechnical as well as technical interventions to mitigate these risks, and to identify ways in which these […]
cdt.org
April 10, 2025 at 8:31 PM
🚨 TOMORROW: Join CDT’s @beccabranum.bsky.social, Deputy Director of our Free Expression Project, at the @knightcolumbia.org symposium on #ArtificialIntelligence & Democratic Freedoms on Friday, April 11th! cdt.org/event/artifi...
I'm disappointed that the TAKE IT DOWN Act advanced out of committee without changes necessary to ensure that the bill protects user privacy and can withstand judicial scrutiny, but I'm grateful for Reps. Pallone and @debbiedingell.house.gov's work to both help survivors and try to fix these issues.
TODAY: The House Energy & Commerce Committee will mark up the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a bill with major implications for online privacy and free expression. energycommerce.house...
Full Committee: Markup
The Committee on Energy and Commerce is the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives and is vested with the broadest jurisdiction of any congressional authorizing committee.
energycommerce.house.gov
April 8, 2025 at 5:07 PM
I'm disappointed that the TAKE IT DOWN Act advanced out of committee without changes necessary to ensure that the bill protects user privacy and can withstand judicial scrutiny, but I'm grateful for Reps. Pallone and @debbiedingell.house.gov's work to both help survivors and try to fix these issues.