At a time of significant technological and policy shifts, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) remains dedicated to promoting civil rights and liberties in the digital era. This includes protecting users from efforts to regulate constitutionally protected speech. CDT opposes not only individual censorship instances but also policies that create a chilling effect, causing individuals to question the safety of engaging in public discourse.
The organization has voiced strong opposition to the Trump Administration's decision to collect social media handles from immigration benefit applicants. CDT argues this move undermines First Amendment protections for free expression. Such surveillance, they claim, allows viewpoint-based enforcement and chills speech even among those not directly targeted.
In collaboration with civil society partners, CDT has defended press freedom and advocated for journalist protections following a March 14 Executive Order targeting the U.S. Agency for Global Media. They emphasized the agency’s vital role in news dissemination and democracy preservation globally. Furthermore, CDT called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to cease its unconstitutional pressure on CBS and reverse its increasingly politicized agenda.
Responding to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) request for comments on technology platform censorship, CDT and allies at the Electronic Frontier Foundation highlighted how content moderation can enhance user speech and online experiences. They cautioned against FTC actions favoring specific perspectives, suggesting instead that the commission promote competition in social media and digital marketplaces.
CDT has raised concerns about sweeping changes undermining government surveillance checks, including illegal firings within the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) by the Trump Administration. Following these events, CDT experts spoke out about PCLOB’s essential role, which was affirmed when a federal judge ruled these firings illegal.
Additionally, CDT has addressed issues regarding the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s access to government information, highlighting cybersecurity and privacy risks for reporters and Congressional offices. The organization has advised Congress members on strengthening privacy laws, joined calls urging Congress to protect taxpayer privacy, and urged private companies processing SNAP benefits to resist unlawful federal data requests.