great experience - Summer Fellow Center for Democracy & Technology Employee Review

CDT fosters a fun and rewarding work environment, with colleagues who are passionate about serving the public interest. CDT takes a principled approach to its policy recommendations, and advocates for the most important tech policy issues of the day (privacy protection, AI governance, freedom of expression, etc.). I really enjoyed my time there and would consider returning.

Salary may not be able to match private-sector equivalents, but is in line with other non-profit organizations.

CDT is no longer the policy and advocacy powerhouse it used to be, due mainly to mismanagement by senior leadership. It is far more beholden to its corporate funders than it portrays (and even that is drying up) and many of the most talented staff members have left in the wake of these changes, such as its Chief Technologist and Privacy Director. When I was there, the mission was held together and advanced by the force of some smart and insightful people but it has been dismantled by a lack of vision at the top.

It used to be an exciting place to be, where creative and brilliant tech policy was born. The policy staff were aight to see and taught me so much. But that strength has been eroding for in the last two or three years by unethical behavior by top deputies and a Board of Directors that does not appear to understand the speed with which the organization’s reputation is declining.