Center for Democracy & Technology

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Recent News About Center for Democracy & Technology

  • Experts discuss bias and equity in AI on CDT's Tech Talks

    In a recent episode of CDT's podcast, "CDT’s Tech Talks," the discussion centered around bias and equity in AI systems. Hosted by Jamal Magby, the podcast featured Raffi Krikorian, Chief Technology Officer at the Emerson Collective and host of "Technically Optimistic," alongside Alexandra Givens, President and CEO of the Center for Democracy and Technology.


  • EU prepares code of practice for general-purpose AI regulation

    The European Union has introduced a pioneering framework for regulating artificial intelligence technologies through the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. This legislation includes specific provisions for general-purpose AI (GPAI) models, also known as foundation models. While the law is finalized, it allows for compliance methods to be determined post-adoption via a multi-stakeholder consultative process.


  • CDT Europe hosts summit addressing digital rights and social justice

    On October 1, CDT Europe, in collaboration with over 40 civil society organizations, co-hosted the Tech and Society Summit in Brussels. The event served as a platform for nonprofit organizations to address issues such as digital rights, climate action, corporate accountability, and social justice. It facilitated dialogue between lawmakers and civil society groups.


  • Everyday harms from AI need more attention alongside high-risk scenarios

    Developers and regulators have long focused on the significant risks of artificial intelligence (AI), such as those that can result in life-altering consequences. However, less attention has been paid to more everyday scenarios where AI can cause harm. For example, errors in AI transcription systems may complicate insurance reimbursements, and service chatbots might misinterpret prompts, failing to process requests correctly.


  • Lessons from non-English NLP groups highlight need for diverse AI development

    Many language models are predominantly trained on English text, which is significantly more than texts in other languages. This imbalance has tangible effects on racialized and marginalized communities. "For example, they have resulted in inaccurate medical advice in Hindi, led to wrongful arrest because of mistranslations in Arabic, and have been accused of fueling ethnic cleansing in Ethiopia due to poor moderation of speech that incites violence."


  • Civil groups urge disclosure on FISA Section 702 impact on Americans

    Warrantless surveillance under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) captures the private communications of many Americans, but the total number affected remains unrecorded. For more than ten years, members of Congress and civil society organizations have urged the Intelligence Community to release an estimate of how many Americans are impacted by this surveillance system. With FISA Section 702 set to expire in 2026, obtaining more information on its effects is crucial. This has led CDT and over 20 other civil society groups to send a letter to the...


  • Concerns raised over spyware use in Slovakia and Greece

    CDT Europe, in collaboration with eleven other organizations from the Spyware Coordination Group, has expressed significant concerns to the European Parliament about spyware technologies in Slovakia and Greece.


  • CDT Europe comments on GDPR application to AI systems

    The Centre for Democracy and Technology Europe (CDT Europe) has engaged with the French national data protection authority, Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL), regarding the General Data Protection Regulation's (GDPR) application to artificial intelligence systems. This engagement is part of CNIL's consultation process.


  • Groups urge rehearing in Anderson v. TikTok over free speech concerns

    On Monday, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) joined an amicus brief led by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). The brief is in support of a petition for rehearing en banc in the case of Anderson v. TikTok. Other organizations involved include the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), Public Knowledge, Reason Foundation, and Wikimedia Foundation.


  • Lorrie Cranor joins CDT Board as expert in privacy technology

    The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) has announced the addition of Dr. Lorrie Cranor to its Board of Directors. Dr. Cranor is recognized for her expertise in privacy, security, and public policy and is currently part of the faculty at Carnegie Mellon University.


  • CDT responds to NIST digital identity guidelines with focus on equity and privacy

    The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) has responded to the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) request for comments on the latest draft of the Digital Identity Guidelines. This marks the second public draft of revision four of Special Publication 800-63.


  • Podcast discusses AI romantic companions' data privacy concerns

    AI chatbots have become a significant part of daily life, with many people using them for various tasks. However, AI romantic companions, a specific type of chatbot, are not as widely recognized. These companions play a personal role for users, making data privacy practices crucial. Concerns arise because many developers lack mature privacy and security protocols, leaving sensitive user data unprotected.


  • Experts discuss bridging gaps between child safety research and policy

    Last week, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) hosted a symposium to discuss child safety online. The event brought together academics, researchers, digital rights advocates, and government representatives to explore how research can inform policy decisions in this area.


  • CDT urges EU Commission to protect children's rights in digital services

    The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) has urged the European Commission to uphold children's fundamental rights in the digital space. Online services are essential for young people, providing them with access to information, online communities, educational resources, and support for mental or physical health issues.


  • CDT supports independent researchers facing challenges in tech industry studies

    Free expression is essential in democratic societies, but speaking truth to power can pose risks. This challenge is recognized by journalists and human rights defenders globally, and increasingly by researchers in academia and civil society.


  • Report shows increased online violence against women of color candidates in US election

    The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) and the University of Pittsburgh have released a report titled "Hated More: Online Violence Targeting Women of Color Candidates in the 2024 US Election." This research examines the nature of online offensive and hate speech directed at candidates running for Congress, with a focus on women of color.


  • Civil society urges stronger regulation against surveillance spyware

    The Centre for Democracy & Technology Europe (CDT Europe) has released its latest Tech Policy Brief, addressing significant technology and internet policy issues currently debated in Europe. The brief includes perspectives on digital rights and highlights the involvement of CDT Europe’s team based in Brussels.


  • Challenges highlighted in moderating Maghrebi Arabic on social media

    The Center for Digital Technology (CDT) has released a report titled "Moderating Maghrebi Arabic Content on Social Media," highlighting the challenges and implications of moderating content in Maghrebi Arabic dialects in North Africa. The report is part of a CDT series investigating biases and disparities in content moderation within the Global South.


  • Debate behavior influenced by microphone control highlights technology's role as policy

    In the June 2024 Trump-Biden debate, a notable adherence to rules and procedures was observed. Unlike their 2019 debate, where interruptions were frequent, the candidates this time waited their turn to speak. This change was attributed not to a shift in political culture but to an audio adjustment: microphones were only functional during designated speaking periods.


  • W3C celebrates its 30th anniversary highlighting achievements and future challenges

    This week marked the 30th anniversary of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the international standards body for the web. The W3C's birthday is on October 1, and a celebration event was held in California on September 24 during the annual technical plenary week of meetings. Many participants joined both in person and online.