Leslie Harris

A recognized global leader in Internet policy, Leslie Harris is the President and CEO of the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) the leading Internet freedom organization working at the vanguard of technology and policy innovation.

Under Ms. Harris’ leadership, CDT has significantly grown its capacity, deepened its expertise and expanded its influence. Among other things, this includes launching CDT West to increase Silicon Valley’s participation in critical policy issues; launching CDT’s Health Privacy Project to develop the next generation of health privacy protections; and significantly expanding CDT’s capacity to respond to emerging global Internet policy and governance challenges.

Ms. Harris is a widely-recognized expert for her work on policy issues related to civil liberties, new technologies and the Internet including free expression, government and consumer privacy, cyber security, Internet governance and global Internet freedom. In the United States, she frequently testifies before Congress and federal agencies, and serves on federal governmental advisory committees. Ms. Harris is also a regular speaker in international Internet governance forums and Internet freedom conferences. Most recently, she co-managed and taught a course at Central European University in Budapest on communication policy advocacy, technology and online freedom of expression.

Due to her work at CDT, Ms. Harris was twice named one of Washington’s “Tech Titans” by Washingtonian Magazine. She has also been selected as Fast Company’s “Most Influential Women in Technology” and as the Huffington Post’s “10 Female Tech CEOs to Watch.” Ms. Harris serves as CDT’s chief spokesperson and regularly contributes to several online publications and blogs, including the Huffington Post.

Ms. Harris is a well-known leader in developing multi-stakeholder processes that develop new governance approaches for important Internet challenges. For example, she was instrumental in the creation of the Global Network Initiative (GNI), a collaboration of leading Internet companies, investors, activists and academics focused on protecting Internet freedom of expression and privacy (she currently serves on GNI’s founding board).

Prior to joining CDT, Ms. Harris was the founder and president of a Internet and technology strategic services and policy consulting firm committed to closing the digital divide and strengthening the participation of civil society in the development of Internet. There, she advised companies, foundations and civil society organizations on a wide range of emerging issues and developed new partnerships among diverse constituencies.

Earlier, Ms. Harris served in senior policy leadership positions in two prominent civil liberties organizations, including as Chief Legislative Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. She has served in leadership position in the American Bar Association, including as Chair of the Individual Rights Section. She was also in private law practice in Washington, DC.

Ms. Harris received her law degree cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center and her BA at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She was recently named a senior fellow at the University of Colorado’s Silicon Flatiron Center for Law, Technology and Entrepreneurship.

A recognized global leader in Internet policy, Leslie Harris is the President and CEO of the Center for Democracy & Technology (“CDT”) www.cdt.org, the leading Internet freedom organization working at the vanguard of technology and policy innovation.Under Ms. Harris’ leadership, CDT has significantly grown its capacity, deepened its expertise and expanded its influence. Among other things, this includes launching CDT West to increase Silicon Valley’s participation in critical policy issues; launching CDT’s Health Privacy Project to develop the next generation of health privacy protections; and significantly expanding CDT’s capacity to respond to emerging global Internet policy and governance challenges.Ms. Harris is a widely-recognized expert for her work on policy issues related to civil liberties, new technologies and the Internet including free expression, government and consumer privacy, cyber security, Internet governance and global Internet freedom. In the United States, she frequently testifies before Congress and federal agencies, and serves on federal governmental advisory committees. Ms. Harris is also a regular speaker in international Internet governance forums and Internet freedom conferences. Most recently, she co-managed and taught a course at Central European University in Budapest on communication policy advocacy, technology and online freedom of expression.Due to her work at CDT, Ms. Harris was twice named one of Washington’s “Tech Titans” by Washingtonian Magazine. She has also been selected as Fast Company’s “Most Influential Women in Technology” and as the Huffington Post’s “10 Female Tech CEOs to Watch.” Ms. Harris serves as CDT’s chief spokesperson and regularly contributes to several online publications and blogs, including the Huffington Post.Ms. Harris is a well-known leader in developing multi-stakeholder processes that develop new governance approaches for important Internet challenges. For example, she was instrumental in the creation of the Global Network Initiative (GNI), a collaboration of leading Internet companies, investors, activists and academics focused on protecting Internet freedom of expression and privacy (she currently serves on GNI’s founding board).Prior to joining CDT, Ms. Harris was the founder and president of a Internet and technology strategic services and policy consulting firm committed to closing the digital divide and strengthening the participation of civil society in the development of Internet. There, she advised companies, foundations and civil society organizations on a wide range of emerging issues and developed new partnerships among diverse constituencies.Earlier, Ms. Harris served in senior policy leadership positions in two prominent civil liberties organizations, including as Chief Legislative Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. She has served in leadership position in the American Bar Association, including as Chair of the Individual Rights Section. She was also in private law practice in Washington, DC.Ms. Harris received her law degree cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center and her BA at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She was recently named a senior fellow at the University of Colorado’s Silicon Flatiron Center for Law, Technology and Entrepreneursh

A recognized global leader in Internet policy, Leslie Harris is the President and CEO of the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) the leading Internet freedom organization working at the vanguard of technology and policy innovation.

Under Ms. Harris’ leadership, CDT has significantly grown its capacity, deepened its expertise and expanded its influence. Among other things, this includes launching CDT West to increase Silicon Valley’s participation in critical policy issues; launching CDT’s Health Privacy Project to develop the next generation of health privacy protections; and significantly expanding CDT’s capacity to respond to emerging global Internet policy and governance challenges.

Ms. Harris is a widely-recognized expert for her work on policy issues related to civil liberties, new technologies and the Internet including free expression, government and consumer privacy, cyber security, Internet governance and global Internet freedom. In the United States, she frequently testifies before Congress and federal agencies, and serves on federal governmental advisory committees. Ms. Harris is also a regular speaker in international Internet governance forums and Internet freedom conferences. Most recently, she co-managed and taught a course at Central European University in Budapest on communication policy advocacy, technology and online freedom of expression.

Due to her work at CDT, Ms. Harris was twice named one of Washington’s “Tech Titans” by Washingtonian Magazine. She has also been selected as Fast Company’s “Most Influential Women in Technology” and as the Huffington Post’s “10 Female Tech CEOs to Watch.” Ms. Harris serves as CDT’s chief spokesperson and regularly contributes to several online publications and blogs, including the Huffington Post.

Ms. Harris is a well-known leader in developing multi-stakeholder processes that develop new governance approaches for important Internet challenges. For example, she was instrumental in the creation of the Global Network Initiative (GNI), a collaboration of leading Internet companies, investors, activists and academics focused on protecting Internet freedom of expression and privacy (she currently serves on GNI’s founding board).

Prior to joining CDT, Ms. Harris was the founder and president of a Internet and technology strategic services and policy consulting firm committed to closing the digital divide and strengthening the participation of civil society in the development of Internet. There, she advised companies, foundations and civil society organizations on a wide range of emerging issues and developed new partnerships among diverse constituencies.

Earlier, Ms. Harris served in senior policy leadership positions in two prominent civil liberties organizations, including as Chief Legislative Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. She has served in leadership position in the American Bar Association, including as Chair of the Individual Rights Section. She was also in private law practice in Washington, DC.

Ms. Harris received her law degree cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center and her BA at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She was recently named a senior fellow at the University of Colorado’s Silicon Flatiron Center for Law, Technology and Entrepreneurship.