| SEPTEMBER U.S. NEWSLETTER |
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Ensuring AI Works for People
As AI technology moves forward at a remarkable pace, CDT is focused on ensuring that AI tools are designed to put people first.
In a recent report published by CDT’s AI Governance Lab, “Principled Practice: A Playbook for Operationalizing Responsible AI” our experts lay out simple steps that companies can take to operationalize responsible AI. Written by several former leads of Responsible AI teams and based on interviews with current responsible AI practitioners, the report delivers clear, actionable guidance — from empowering experts and thoughtfully triaging work, to establishing structures for governance, investing in visibility infrastructure, and tracking efforts holistically.
Another AI Gov Lab report takes a look at some of the most challenging risks that conversational AI tools present: so-called “dark patterns,” choices embedded in the design of AI tools that impact users’ navigation, decisions and behaviors in ways they might not even be aware of. With effects ranging from capturing users’ attention to coercing them to share personal data, these deceptive design patterns present an even more complicated challenge when incorporated into opaque AI systems.
Finally, CDT President and CEO Alexandra Reeve Givens partnered with CDT Visiting Fellow Ambassador Karen Kornbluh on a piece in Project Syndicate laying out the critical importance of incorporating human rights into AI design and deployment. They write “Policymakers and companies must take proactive steps to ensure that AI deployment meets certain standards and conditions – as already happens in many other industries.”
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— CDT joined an amicus brief in the case of Cox v. Sony, which examines the liability of internet service providers (ISPs) for customers who engage in copyright infringement. Along with allies at the ACLU, CDT lays out how an incorrect decision in the case could have devastating effects on free expression.
— In a blog post published on CDT.org, CDT intern Kelly Ellis makes the case for the importance of middleware as a powerful, rights-respecting tool for policymakers looking to keep users safe online while respecting the First Amendment.
— In a joint memo published with Consumer Reports, CDT’s Matt Scherer, Project Lead for Workers' Rights and Technology, analyzes what new legislation in California has to say about the power of automated decision-making systems — tools which are making increasingly important decisions about our lives, often without our knowledge.
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— “It’s a lot more complex than showing your ID before you enter a pub,” CDT’s Aliya Bhatia told the Washington Post about facial recognition technology that purports to provide age-assurance online. A new law in the UK “rests on two false notions: that there’s a silver bullet — an easy, rights-respecting, affordable way to do age verification online — and that users don’t care about their rights and privacy.”
— In Deseret News, CDT General Counsel George Slover spoke about the rise of “bespoke pricing”, explaining how consumers stand to lose as the practice gains ground. “As a practical matter what the sellers will do is maximize their prices. There’s a lot less incentive to lower the price for someone than raise the price for someone.”
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 | Event graphic for CDT's 2025 Annual Benefit, Tech Prom. Abstract gradients of dark blue, and dark blue and gold text.
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| CDT "In-Person"
— It’s less than a month until CDT’s annual Tech Prom on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at The LINE DC. Join us for a fun night of networking and conversation — you won’t want to miss it! Join us for a fun night of networking and conversation — you won’t want to miss it! Sponsorships and individual tickets are available now, register before they sell out.
— On September 25-26, CDT staff members Ariana Aboulafia, Michal Luria, and Dhanaraj Thakur will be featured speakers at the 4th Annual Trust and Safety Research Conference hosted by Stanford’s Cyber Policy Center.
— On September 9, CDT’s Kristin Woelfel was a featured speaker at the EdTech Leaders Alliance Webinar: Nonconsensual Deep Fakes: Surfacing Tech-Powered Harassment in K-12 Schools.
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Elizabeth Laird smiling wearing a light brown jacket and black top, outdoors in front of a city background.
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| Staff Spotlight
What is one thing you wish people knew about working on civic technology issues?
I wish that more people knew that innovating and modernizing the delivery of public services does not have to come at the expense of privacy and civil liberties. This is a false choice as public agencies at all levels of government can only improve people's experiences *if* they maintain trust and keep people safe online as they do in-person.
What is your proudest moment while here at CDT?
Having just passed my seven-year mark at CDT, there are many, many moments I am proud of during my tenure at CDT. However, if I had to choose one, I would say that I am very proud of how the entire civic tech team has responded to the radical changes we have seen this year in terms of how the federal government collects, shares, and consolidates data about everyday people. In response to these norm-busting practices that push legal and ethical boundaries, we offered thoughtful commentary, spearheaded new partnerships, hosted conversations with varying perspectives, and provided multi-disciplinary solutions that protect individual's privacy and civil liberties (all of which you can find here).
Cats or dogs?
I am a three-time recipient of the cat distribution system, so while I was raised around dogs and identify more as a dog person, I am currently in my (orange) cat era. They make frequent appearances during my Zoom meetings, and one was even caught on camera during a TV interview last year.
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