Center for Democracy and Technology

Center for Democracy
& Technology

Type	Non-profit organization
Founded	1994
Location	Washington, D.C., United States
Website	cdt.org

The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) is a Washington, D.C. based 501(c)(3) non-profit public-interest group that works to promote an open, innovative and free Internet.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

As a civil liberties group with expertise in law, technology, and policy, CDT works to enhance free expression and privacy in communications technologies by finding practical and innovative solutions to public policy challenges while protecting civil liberties. CDT is dedicated to building consensus among all parties interested in the future of the Internet and other new communications media.^[7]

In 1994, Jerry Berman parted ways with another organization, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and formed the Center for Democracy & Technology.^[8][9][10] Jerry Berman heads the 200 organization Advisory Committee to the Congressional Internet Caucus, a bipartisan group of over 160 members of Congress which sponsor Internet policy forums and a speakers program to increase congressional understanding of the Internet.^[6]

CDT has used the internet itself to influence legislation concerning the internet. For instance, the organization has relied on email to spread a message like a virus, called "Word of Mouse." The organization has also used the Internet to facilitate communication from citizens to governments and businesses. The CDT has used the web as a way to greatly enhance their ability to make a difference and have a larger say in important issues.^[5]

One way the CDT differs from other organizations with similar goals, such as the Electronic Frontiers Foundation, is that the CDT prefers to use a more pragmatic inside strategy when working with companies and government officials.^[9] The CDT often works with legislators on controversial legislation. For example, the CDT offered opinions on the rework of the Internet Integrity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2000 (S.2448),^[11] a computer-crime bill introduced in the 106th Congress by United States Senate Orrin Hatch, Patrick Leahy, and Chuck Schumer. While other organizations prefer not to comment on legislation in progress, the CDT believes a "seat at the table" enables advocacy for civil liberties positions that might not otherwise be heard. People at CDT work with lawmakers to insert civil liberties concepts into new law and to remove concepts that would endanger the liberty of the individual.^[2]

Spyware

The CDT convened the Anti-Spyware Coalition, an organization made up of anti-spyware providers as well as public interest groups committed to combating the rise of unwanted spyware clogging computers and endangering Internet communications. In 2004, CDT launched its first complaint to the FTC against Mailwiper Inc. and Seismic Entertainment Media and their affiliates, alleging that they were engaging in deceptive and unfair marketing practices by changing computer users' web homepages without their consent and trying to convince these users they needed the Mailwiper program called "Spy Wiper" to protect their computers. Later, In 2006, with the help of the organization Stopbadware.org, the CDT urged the FTC to shut down the site FastMP3Search.com.ar. The Site executed the installation of Trojan Horse applications to users, it then disabled security software, changed homepage settings, and impaired computer speed and performance without user consent.^[9]

References

1. ^ Helft, Miguel (March 30, 2010). "Technology Coalition Seeks Stronger Privacy Laws". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/technology/31privacy.html. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Protect your digital privacy .... http://books.google.com/books?id=WXVc9I_9nlsC&pg=PA425&dq=%22center+for+democracy+and+technology%22+advocacy. Retrieved August 24, 2010. 
3. ^ The center for democracy and .... October 13, 2008. http://books.google.com/books?id=uKOFAAAAMAAJ&q=%22center+for+democracy+and+technology%22+advocacy&dq=%22center+for+democracy+and+technology%22+advocacy. Retrieved August 24, 2010. 
4. ^ Congress and the politics of .... http://books.google.com/books?id=dYt5to2-bowC&pg=PA58&dq=%22center+for+democracy+and+technology%22+advocacy. Retrieved August 24, 2010. 
5. ^ ^{a b} The civic web: online politics and .... http://books.google.com/books?id=9W7PapKtOyUC&pg=PA4&dq=%22center+for+democracy+and+technology%22+advocacy. Retrieved August 24, 2010. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "Jerry Berman". http://www.cdt.org/personnel/jerry-berman#. 
7. ^ Privacy in Context: Technology .... http://books.google.com/books?id=_NN1uGn1Jd8C&pg=PR12&dq=%22center+for+democracy+and+technology%22+advocacy. Retrieved August 24, 2010. 
8. ^ Public interest profiles. June 26, 2008. http://books.google.com/books?id=o4iyAAAAIAAJ&q=%22center+for+democracy+and+technology%22+advocacy+berman+1994&dq=%22center+for+democracy+and+technology%22+advocacy+berman+1994. Retrieved August 24, 2010. 
9. ^ ^{a b c} The privacy advocates: resisting the .... http://books.google.com/books?id=aKEPrhAtk7wC&pg=PA50&dq=%22center+for+democracy+and+technology%22+advocacy+berman+1994. Retrieved August 24, 2010. 
10. ^ Encyclopedia of computers and .... December 22, 2007. http://books.google.com/books?id=cINUAAAAMAAJ&q=%22center+for+democracy+and+technology%22+advocacy+berman+1994&dq=%22center+for+democracy+and+technology%22+advocacy+berman+1994. Retrieved August 24, 2010. 
11. ^ "S.2448: Internet Integrity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2000". http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s106-2448. 

External links

• CDT website

Name	Position at CDT	Background
Jerry Berman	Founder	Director, EFF; Chief Legislative Counsel ACLU
Deirdre K. Mulligan	Chair of the Board	Assistant Professor, University of California, Berkeley School of Information
Leslie Harris	President & Chief Executive Officer	Founder, Leslie Harris & Associates; Director of Public Policy, PFAW
Jim Dempsey	Vice President for Public Policy	Deputy Director, Center for National Security Studies; Assistant Counsel to the United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights