Source: Center for Democracy & Technology

CDT works to ensure artificial intelligence is designed, deployed, and regulated in ways that respect civil rights and democratic values. It advocates for policies that protect human rights where AI is used in government surveillance, elections, government benefits, hiring and insurance decisions, and online speech. CDT converts high-level principles into practical guidance to help organizations build safety and accountability into AI systems from their inception, supports public interest advocates and researchers focused on fairness and transparency, and conducts original research on AI’s real-world impact.

The organization shapes legislation at the state, federal, and EU levels and intentionally bridges civil liberties and human rights groups with industry practitioners, leaders at frontier labs, free market groups, and the broader AI ethics and safety communities. CDT’s AI Governance Lab develops technically grounded approaches to AI auditing, safety, and accountability, engaging directly with companies and policymakers to protect populations most affected by AI. The page lists recent insights and interventions—including articles, congressional comments, coalition letters, and podcasts dated August–September 2026—and names CDT experts and staff involved in this work.