There's an internet blackout in Iran designed to silence protest and quell dissent. Again. And it shows us the potential consequences of the US government's withdrawal from international spaces - particularly the Freedom Online Coalition. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/w...

Merry Christmas everyone!!! A bit of real cheer for us all! 🎅🎄🤶🌲

“Trump’s executive order could cause concern among lawmakers who fear possible blowback from the administration for their efforts, said @travisrh.bsky.social, the director for state engagement at the CDT, a nonprofit that advocates for digital rights & freedom of expression.”

Come and work with me! We're building out our state engagement team at CDT, and are looking for a Senior Policy Counsel to help fight for digital rights at the state level. cdt.org/careers/#op-...

In partnership with the Wharton School, we have an awesome opening for a Knight Postdoctoral Fellow at UPenn, focused on media, censorship, marketing and tech. Amazing supervisors, data access, a cohort of like-minded scholars, and good pay/benefits. Apply by 1/11: infodem.upenn.edu//wharton-pos...

“In short, this EO is a reckless attempt to remove accountability from AI developers and deployers through threats and bluster, seeking to make up for the reality that Congress has not preempted state laws.”

The EO relies on deeply flawed mechanisms: directing DOJ to challenge state laws without clear standing, threatening to withhold broadband funding, and even re-ordering FCC actions already underway—despite Congress rejecting similar proposals.

New blog from CDT’s @nullset.bsky.social, @travisrh.bsky.social, & @samircjain.bsky.social analyzes the Trump Admin’s latest AI EO which claims to preempt state AI laws—laying out a set of largely toothless directives aimed at chilling state action.

ICYMI: One of our latest blogs by Quinn Anex-Ries looks at the risks of rushing AI adoption across federal agencies — wasting resources, harming the public, creating confusion, and deepening vendor lock-in. Check it out! cdt.org/insights/dep...

EPIC believes that states will continue to play a key role in setting tech policy and charting a responsible path forward. epic.org/executive-or...

The EO does not contain any specific AI policy positions or identify any legal authority that would allow the Executive to preempt state laws.

President Trump's Executive Order attempting to stop states from regulating AI is "exactly the opposite of what our country needs right now," said EPIC Executive Director @alanindc.bsky.social.

Two things about this EO are true: 1) it is a despicable, sloppy, and unacceptable act that reflects Trumps well documented affinity for his tech buddies 2) it does nothing by itself — CNN and the NYTimes get it BIG wrong here, giving Trump the headline he wants to scare states and create apathy

CDT‘s @alexreevegivens.bsky.social: “Only Congress can preempt state laws, and it has now twice correctly decided not to pursue this misguided and unpopular policy. State officials should not be deterred in their efforts to provide guardrails for #AI.”

@alexreevegivens.bsky.social: “States taking steps to protect their residents from such harms should not be subject to threats of legal attacks; nor should the admin punish rural Americans by threatening to withhold funding for #broadband services that could connect them to #AI in the first place.”

CDT President & CEO @alexreevegivens.bsky.social: “This executive order is designed to chill state-level action to provide oversight and accountability for the developers and deployers of #AI systems, while doing nothing to address the real and documented harms these systems can create.”

On the heels of Congress correctly deciding for the second time not to pass legislation that would ban states from regulating AI, the President should recognize that this is a misguided, unpopular, and dangerous policy choice. truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...

They should have worked this part into the headline: Trump Promises Executive Order to Block State A.I. Regulations www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/u...

Court claims agencies don't answer to Congress. Wonder what an actual agency commissioner thinks of that claim...

Court: founders wanted powers separated, right? Administration: yes with a caveat--Article II gives president all the power of removal/to enforce the laws. Court: that's not a caveat. that's a contradiction.

This morning, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Slaughter v. Trump, the case that might (will?) decide whether federal independent agencies can exist. I will try to liveskeet some of the more interesting parts of the oral argument this morning.

So far, #AI moratorium lost 99-1 (really 100-0) in the Senate earlier this year, and now House R leadership has lost its gambit to force preemption into the NDAA. Gee, I wonder what lesson they'll learn. #ArtificialIntelligence

In a new CDT report, @isabelalinzer.bsky.social and @beccabranum.bsky.social explore how creators, platforms, and policymakers are reshaping political speech and where regulatory gaps leave elections vulnerable. Read more: cdt.org/insights/arc...

Early retirement has led to an in incredible gig as Comm Serv Manager at @phoenixbikes.bsky.social running the Give a Bike program. This year we have given 130 bikes to members of the community. This Giving Tuesday pls consider supporting Phoenix Bikes. #bikedc www.phoenixbikes.org/donate/

Today is #GivingTuesday! CDT is working to ensure innovation respects your rights—from defending free expression and online privacy, to advancing responsible AI, to preparing for the 2026 elections. Support CDT today with a gift of any size. cdt.org/2025givingtu...#GivingTuesday!

NOW: CDT’s Free Expression Project Director,@kateruane.bsky.social, is testifying before the House Energy & Commerce CMT Subcommittee in a hearing on “Legislative Solutions to Protect Children and Teens Online.”

This morning, my colleague @kateruane.bsky.social will be testifying in front of House E&C on #KidsSafety bills, including on #privacy. Testimony: d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/Testimony_Ru... Looking forward to it!

#GivingTuesday is tomorrow! Stand with CDT in advancing civil rights & civil liberties in the digital age. From defending free expression to protecting people’s privacy and advancing responsible AI, our impact is powered by supporters like you. Donate here: cdt.org/2025givingtu...#GivingTuesday

"Siri, create a claim of reasonable suspicion to justify a car stop" Border Patrol is using AI to generate alerts of "suspicious" driving patterns and using them as the basis for stops. Raises huge concerns regarding automation bias and AI reliability apnews.com/article/immi...

The President cannot preempt state laws through an executive order, full stop. Preemption is a question for Congress, which they have considered and rejected, and should continue to reject. www.axios.com/2025/11/19/t...

The CFPB proposed a new rule where it would no longer recognize disparate impact liability when enforcing the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. This would eliminate a key protection against discrimination in access to credit, including when AI is involved. www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...

New report alert🚨🚨 Political influencers aren’t quite activists, media, or advertisers. So what are they? How do social media policies and government regulations apply? 🧵 on this transformative trend in democracy and politics: cdt.org/insights/arc...

NEW: In the latest in our @cdt.org series on the border search exception, we show how your devices can be searched, fully copied, stored with DHS for years, and have sensitive data harvested with powerful AI tools. All without a warrant. cdt.org/insights/the...

Come for the headline, stay for the 🔥 quotes from @kateruane.bsky.social

Interested in #TechPolicy #internships? Join us at @cdt.org next summer! Several options: Legal, research, comms, etc. cdt.org/careers/

Staff Spotlight: DeVan Hankerson Madrigal 🌟 DeVan is CDT’s State Policy Analyst & Research Manager, advancing research and policy to protect digital rights and promote equitable tech access. cdt.org/staff/devan-...

📢 Applications are open for CDT’s Summer 2026 Internship Program until February 1! Join DC’s leading tech policy organization and work on critical issues like AI governance, privacy, and digital equity — or help amplify our mission through strategic comms & fundraising. cdt.org/careers/

Airline #Privacy is a serious problem, as airlines essentially have no privacy requirements (Dept of Transportation started investigating airline privacy practices last year but the agency has since dropped it). You should opt out of this practice ASAP.

LISTEN NOW: As AI systems shape decisions in healthcare, hiring, and beyond, the need for transparency has never been greater. How can we document these tools in ways that are both meaningful and actionable? Tune into the latest Tech Talks podcast episode on AI Documentation: cdt.org/insights/tec...

Join CDT, @datasociety.bsky.social & @ACLU.org “Advocating with Evidence: Lessons for Tech Researchers in Civil Society” — a conversation on using research to advance equity and tech accountability. 📅 Nov 13 | 10–11 AM ET | Online

Since moving to civil society, I've noticed a huge dearth of support for researchers working in the space - although there are tons of us! Come join this D&SxACLUxCDT event where we talk about the opportunities and challenges of research to support tech policy & advocacy!

The #FOSO25 Fireside Chat is starting now! Join @daphnek.bsky.social, Genevieve Lakier, and Derek Bambauer as they kick off Future of Speech Online 2025 — exploring the new forms of jawboning, and how to balance government communication with protection from coercion. 🔗 standtogether.swoogo...#FOSO25

Proud to be part of the @CDT.org team as we celebrate 30+ years of championing digital rights! Join us at #TechPromCDT on Oct. 23, 2025 for the conversations (and the vibes) that make tech policy exciting. 🎉 cdt.org/event/2025-t...

Age verification mandates, digital ID laws, and policies entrenching digital identification online are fundamentally changing how we access the web and whether we can access it anonymously. Read my colleague Nick on why a "Papers, Please" web isn't what we want: cdt.org/insights/we-...

NYU-MCC is hiring! Asst. Prof in the area of “Media and Global Cities.” Please help us get the word out. apply.interfolio.com/174886

Last week, I joined @justinhendrix.bsky.social and Maddy Dwyer @cdt.org to discuss DOGE, AI, and government "efficiency" initiatives for the @techpolicypress.bsky.social podcast. It's a rather grim topic, but I enjoyed making sense of it with Justin and Maddy. www.techpolicy.press/following-do...

OK, maaaaybe you have to make your arguments in court even if you might prevail. But that is because.... reasons. Reasons that I'm sure have nothing to do with who is requesting emergency relief. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...

This decision is bad on the merits- it’s a horrific violation of the privacy of Americans- but it is also another poisoned fruit of the shadow docket tree. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

After years complaining about “political” priorities weighing down BEAD funding, Senate Republicans are apparently proposing to make funding Americans’ Internet connectivity contingent on preventing states from enforcing any regulations on artificial intelligence and automated decision systems.