Summer of Digital Advocacy at CDT
Center for Democracy and Technology is one of the leading internet think tanks committed to fighting for citizen digital rights. CDT works to support policy and legislative efforts to maintain a free and open internet and protect civil liberties in age of increased technology and surveillance
ISSUE AREAS: Open internet, Free Expression Online, antitrust and competition, privacy and surveillance, student privacy, internet architecture
The 11 week internship took place from June 3rd to August 16th at CDT’s US office in Washington, DC. I was supported by the Meinig Family Cornell National Scholars for my work there.
KEY PROJECTS
America’s digital divide and pursuit of equitable broadband access (check out my blogpost here!)
Podcast episode with Dr. Nicol Turner Lee of Brookings Institution and Mr. Scott Turnbull of US Ignite
Antitrust in tech video series
Student privacy portability brief video
Personal Analysis and Reflections
The intersection of technology with law and public policy has been increasingly addressed and discussed but there still lacks a pipeline to provide individuals aspiring to work in this field with the knowledge and skills necessary. This internship brought me great exposure to some of the leading experts in facial recognition technology, small cells research and 5G networks, along with legal academics and policy advisors working to ensure there are legislation governing these technology developments and oversee their ethical enforcement.
I was able to continue to develop my commitment to equitable and fair broadband access, and expand my knowledge on key issues such as competing 5G networks, governmental use of surveillance tools, and potential anti-competitive elements in modern day tech giants.
CDT’s primary position is fair and open use of internet and freedom of expression online, thus this position influences the industry partners, agencies and NGO’s we partner with and often create an assumed left-leaning bias. However, we have also undergone numerous bias training sessions to ensure we are non-partisan and always hold the people’s rights and civil liberties as our primary concern.