Center for Democracy & Technology
Recent News About Center for Democracy & Technology
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The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) has endorsed the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits (DEFIANCE) Act, urging Congress to pass the legislation. The bipartisan, bicameral bill aims to clarify the existing Violence Against Women Act's federal civil cause of action for nonconsensual sharing of intimate images to include victims of AI-generated images.
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On May 31, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) submitted its comments to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) regarding NIST's draft report titled "Reducing Risks Posed by Synthetic Content: An Overview of Technical Approaches to Digital Content Transparency." The CDT commended the draft for its comprehensive overview of both the risks and benefits associated with current and emerging content-labeling techniques and synthetic content detection methods.
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The Centre for Democracy & Technology Europe (CDT Europe) has released its June 2024 Tech Policy Brief, addressing key technology and internet policy issues in Europe, the U.S., and globally. This edition provides insights into digital rights impacts and features contributions from CDT's Brussels team.
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CDT and dozens of other organizations, companies, and cybersecurity experts have released a joint letter highlighting the threat posed to encryption by the latest "compromise" proposal from the EU presidency on the proposed EU Regulation on Child Sexual Abuse. Members of the Global Encryption Coalition organized the letter, which argues that the proposal’s mandate for mass "upload moderation" is essentially a rehashed version of client-side scanning approaches seen in earlier iterations of this regulation. Detection of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) images would...
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The Centre for Democracy & Technology Europe has submitted feedback to Member States regarding the latest proposal by the Belgian Presidency of the Council on the regulation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). As Belgium's rotating presidency concludes, Member States are striving to reach an agreement that will enable negotiations with the European Parliament post-elections.
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The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) has released a report titled "Fostering Responsible Tech Use: Balancing the Benefits and Risks Among Public Child Welfare Agencies." The report addresses the integration of data and technology systems, including artificial intelligence (AI), in child welfare agencies that work with over 390,000 youth in foster care annually.
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Recently, legislative bodies across the United States have seen a surge in activity as lawmakers in over 10 states introduced several closely related bills aimed at addressing AI systems and their impacts on various facets of society. These areas include hiring practices, education, insurance, housing, lending, government services, and criminal sentencing. The scope of these bills is extensive and is expected to have a significant impact nationwide.
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On May 23, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) joined other civil society groups in sending a letter urging Vermont Governor Phil Scott to sign the Vermont Data Privacy Act. The bill is noted for its robust privacy protections and is seen as a new model for safeguarding consumers' personal information.
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Policymakers, legal experts, and social media platforms are currently working to establish rules, legislation, and systems aimed at shielding youth from a variety of online risks, including unwanted sexual solicitations and potential violence. Yet, an important question arises: do all youth need the same uniform protection or can such protection be differentiated based on differing needs? Instead of enacting “Big Brother” type online surveillance systems, picture a digital world where youth navigate a spectrum of online risks and those who are at the highest risk could opt-in...
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On April 17, CDT Europe and the Open Government Partnership hosted the Fifth DSA Civil Society Roundtable Series event in Brussels. With the Digital Services Act (DSA) now fully in force, over 90 participants from national regulatory bodies, European institutions, academia, and civil society gathered to discuss various aspects of DSA implementation. The event aimed to identify priorities and challenges faced by different stakeholders and explore potential areas for improved collaboration.
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On May 27th, government officials and representatives from the private sector, academia, and civil society worldwide will gather to commemorate two decades since the first World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). The WSIS initially convened stakeholders to envision a future where digital technologies are accessible to all, regardless of country or background. It initiated a series of meetings aimed at aligning the internet's evolution with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and fundamental human rights principles.
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In advance of the markup in the House Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee today, several civil society organizations have sent a letter to House Commerce Chairs and members of the Innovation, Communications, and Technology Subcommittee. The letter expresses concerns regarding the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), H.R. 7891, as it is currently drafted.
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U.S. House Energy & Commerce leadership recently announced draft legislation that would sunset Section 230 protections. Repealing Section 230 without an agreement on what a post-230 world should look like could threaten users' free expression rights and exacerbate the problems some in Congress aim to solve. Any conversation about reforming Section 230 must prioritize users, including those who rely on its protections to exchange information online.
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On Friday, Colorado enacted Senate Bill 24-205 (SB 205), a new law aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in AI-driven decision systems. This legislation requires companies to provide basic information and safeguards when using AI for high-stakes decisions affecting employment, credit, healthcare, and education. Currently, many companies make such decisions without informing the affected individuals, leading to potential errors and biases that undermine civil rights and consumer protection laws.
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On Wednesday, May 22, Jake Laperruque from the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) testified before the House Committee on Homeland Security during a hearing titled “Advancing Innovation (AI): Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Defend and Secure the Homeland.”
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The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) has submitted comments to the Meta Oversight Board regarding the moderation of posts containing the phrase "From the river to the sea." The phrase, which refers to the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, has gained prominence in public discourse since the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack in Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza.
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As India, the world's largest democracy, witnesses nearly a billion voters heading to the polls, CDT, Article 19 and eight other civil society organizations have called on the Indian government to cease its suppression of press activity and political opposition.
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The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) and Consumer Reports have expressed their support for the passage of Colorado’s Senate Bill 205. This legislation aims to establish fundamental safeguards for the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in critical decisions impacting consumers and workers, such as those related to housing access, lending, and employment.
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The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT), in conjunction with other leading civil society organizations, has urged the Senate to further refine the Kids Online Safety Act. These organizations, which include the ACLU, EFF, Fight for the Future, and New America’s Open Technology Institute, have expressed concerns that the current bill could lead to censorship and heightened risks to internet users' privacy.
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On May 16, the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) joined forces with New America’s Open Tech Institute to express their opposition to the Kids Off Social Media Act (S. 4213). This legislation was introduced by Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Katie Britt (R-Ala.).