Cindy Cohn

Cindy Cohn
Name	Cindy Cohn
Alma mater	University of Michigan Law School, University of Iowa
Occupation	Lawyer, Executive director
Known for	Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
Title	Executive Director, Electronic Frontier Foundation
Predecessor	Shari Steele

Cindy Cohn is an American civil liberties attorney who has served as the Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) since 2015. She is widely recognized as a leading advocate for digital rights, free speech, and privacy in the digital age, having litigated landmark cases involving cryptography, government surveillance, and intellectual property. Prior to leading the organization, she worked for over two decades as a staff attorney and legal director for the EFF, representing clients like Daniel J. Bernstein in pivotal First Amendment challenges.

Early life and education

Cohn grew up in a family that valued public service and developed an early interest in law and justice. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa, earning a degree in political science. She then pursued her legal education at the University of Michigan Law School, a top-tier institution known for its focus on public interest law. During her time in Ann Arbor, her academic work began to engage with the emerging legal questions surrounding technology, which would later define her career. Her legal training provided a strong foundation in constitutional law, which proved essential for her future work at the intersection of technology and civil liberties.

Legal career

After graduating from law school, Cohn began her legal career in private practice in San Francisco, focusing on commercial litigation. Her path shifted dramatically in the mid-1990s when she took on the pro bono representation of mathematician and programmer Daniel J. Bernstein in the landmark case Bernstein v. United States. This case challenged U.S. government regulations that treated strong encryption software as a munition under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), arguing such restrictions violated the First Amendment. Her successful advocacy in this case established a crucial precedent for treating code as speech and brought her to the attention of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. She joined the EFF as a staff attorney in 2000, eventually rising to the position of Legal Director.

Leadership of the Electronic Frontier Foundation

Cohn was appointed Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation in 2015, succeeding Shari Steele. In this role, she oversees the organization's strategic direction, legal advocacy, and public policy initiatives. Under her leadership, the EFF has significantly expanded its focus on combating mass government surveillance, championing net neutrality, and defending encryption technologies from government backdoors. She has testified before the United States Congress and regulatory bodies like the Federal Communications Commission, and has been a vocal critic of laws such as the USA PATRIOT Act and practices of agencies like the National Security Agency. Her tenure has emphasized global collaboration, working with international groups like Access Now and Digital Rights Ireland.

Notable cases and advocacy

Throughout her career, Cohn has been counsel or a key strategist in numerous pivotal digital rights cases. Beyond Bernstein v. United States, she played a central role in Jewel v. NSA, a class-action lawsuit challenging the NSA's warrantless wiretapping program revealed by whistleblower Mark Klein. She also led the EFF's long-running litigation in Hepting v. AT&T, which alleged the telecommunications company's collaboration with the NSA in illegal surveillance. Her advocacy extends to intellectual property battles, defending fair use and innovation against overly broad copyright claims, and to fighting for consumer privacy against companies engaging in unfair data practices. She has been a persistent advocate for reforming or repealing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Awards and recognition

Cohn's work has earned her significant acclaim within the legal and technology communities. She has been named to lists such as the Forbes "World's Top 50 Women in Tech" and the SF Weekly "Power 100." The American Bar Association's Section of Science & Technology Law has honored her contributions. In 2023, she received the Fletcher Foundation's Fletcher Award for her lifetime commitment to civil liberties. Her writings and commentary are frequently featured in major publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Wired, and she is a sought-after speaker at events like the RSA Conference and South by Southwest.

Personal life

Cohn resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. She is known to be an avid reader and enjoys hiking in the regional parks of Northern California. She maintains a active presence on social media platforms, using them to engage the public on digital rights issues. Colleagues describe her as a dedicated mentor to young lawyers and activists in the digital rights movement, emphasizing the importance of principled and strategic advocacy.

Category:American lawyers Category:Digital rights activists Category:Electronic Frontier Foundation people