What Research Is Being Done at Stanford’s Center for Internet and Society (CIS) on Privacy & Cyber Law?
In a world where your every click online leaves a digital footprint, who guards your personal information? As data breaches make headlines and governments scramble to regulate tech giants, the need for smart laws has never been greater. Enter Stanford's Center for Internet and Society, or CIS, a hub where legal minds meet tech experts to tackle these issues head-on. Founded in 2000 by Lawrence Lessig, CIS dives into how laws can protect privacy while fostering innovation in our connected age. Privacy and cyber law research at CIS focuses on real-world problems, like government surveillance, consumer data protection, and the legal battles over encryption. With experts like Barbara van Schewick leading the way, the center blends scholarship, policy analysis, and public events to influence laws that balance security with individual rights. For beginners, think of it as crafting rules for a digital playground where everyone plays fair but stays safe. In 2025, as AI and emerging tech raise new challenges, CIS's work remains vital. This blog explores their key research areas, projects, and why it matters for all of us. From analyzing electronic surveillance to shaping privacy policies, CIS helps ensure technology serves people, not the other way around. Let's uncover the details.
Table of Contents
- What is the Center for Internet and Society?
- Privacy Research at CIS
- Cyber Law Research at CIS
- Key Ongoing Projects
- Key Researchers and Experts
- Notable Publications and Contributions
- Events and Collaborations
- Summary Table of Research Areas
- Conclusion
What is the Center for Internet and Society?
CIS is a public interest technology law and policy program at Stanford Law School, part of the broader Law, Science, and Technology Program. It gathers scholars, lawmakers, students, programmers, and security experts to explore how new technologies interact with the law. The goal? To promote public goods like free speech, innovation, and privacy while addressing harms from tech misuse.
Founded to study internet policy, CIS has evolved to cover emerging tech like AI and IoT. It offers educational resources, policy analyses, and legal support through initiatives like the Fair Use Project. Funding comes from donors like Google and the Knight Foundation, but research stays independent. For newcomers, CIS acts as a bridge between complex tech and everyday laws, ensuring policies protect users.
In privacy and cyber law, CIS examines how data collection affects rights and how cyber threats demand new legal tools. Their work influences U.S. and global policies, making the digital world safer.
Privacy Research at CIS
Privacy is a core focus at CIS, recognized for its multi-angle approach to issues like data protection in the Information Age. Researchers study consumer expectations, dark patterns in apps, and genetic privacy. Dark patterns are tricky designs that nudge users into sharing more data than they intend.
Key efforts include analyzing contact tracing apps during pandemics and their privacy risks. CIS also explores AI's impact on privacy, with a 56% surge in incidents noted in recent reports. They advocate for better notice and choice in data practices, like the Notice by Design program, which uses human-computer interaction to simplify privacy info.
- Consumer privacy leadership: Directors like Jen King lead studies on online disclosure and policy.
- Cross-border data: Examining global flows and enforcement.
- Smart cities privacy: Addressing data from sensors and public spaces.
CIS's privacy work pushes for laws that empower users, influencing debates on GDPR-like rules in the U.S.
Cyber Law Research at CIS
Cyber law at CIS tackles surveillance, encryption, and state-sponsored threats. Electronic surveillance research uncovers how agencies expand capabilities secretly, analyzing impacts on privacy and security. They study tools like the CyberTipline for child safety reports and propose improvements.
Encryption policy is key, with fellows researching U.S. laws on decrypting data for law enforcement. CIS critiques bills like EARN IT and STOP CSAM for potential overreach. They also cover international law for cyber peace and vulnerability disclosure.
- Surveillance strategies: Real-world analysis of tech and legal interpretations.
- Cyber threats: From hackers like Volt Typhoon to AI-generated CSAM.
- Policy influence: Comments on global regs like DSA.
This research equips policymakers to handle evolving cyber risks without eroding rights.
Key Ongoing Projects
CIS runs projects blending law and tech. The Crypto Policy Project investigates encryption laws via FOIA and interviews. Smart Cities explores privacy in data-heavy urban tech.
The World Intermediary Liability Map tracks global regs on platforms. Cookie Clearinghouse aids users in privacy choices. Warrant Workshops train judges on surveillance tech. Collaborations with Cyber Policy Center address AI and platform regulation.
- Notice by Design: Experiments for better privacy notices.
- Online child safety: Improving reporting pipelines.
- AI governance: Bias, privacy risks in emerging tech.
These projects produce actionable insights for law and tech design.
Key Researchers and Experts
Barbara van Schewick, Faculty Director, leads on net neutrality and tech policy. Jen King, former Consumer Privacy Director, studies disclosure and AI privacy. Riana Pfefferkorn focuses on surveillance, cybersecurity, and crypto policy.
Albert Gidari handled privacy and surveillance. Daphne Keller directs platform regulation. Affiliates like Kristen Eichensehr cover cyber foreign relations.
- Interdisciplinary teams: Law, engineering, social sciences.
- Fellows and affiliates: Bring industry and academic views.
- Training next gen: Students in research and policy.
These experts drive CIS's impact through diverse perspectives.
Notable Publications and Contributions
CIS produces blogs, papers, and comments shaping discourse. "A Duty of Loyalty for Privacy Law" critiques data practices. Lawfare pieces on AI-CSAM and EARN IT Act. Comments to regulators like TRAI on traffic management.
Books like "Cybersecurity Law Fundamentals" update on breaches and regs. Reports on online privacy from NSF-funded work. Blogs cover EU's DSA and child safety.
- Policy submissions: To FCC, EU, and more.
- Academic articles: On encryption, surveillance.
- Public outreach: Blogs, podcasts for wide access.
These outputs inform lawmakers and educate the public.
Events and Collaborations
CIS hosts speakers, workshops, and conferences on privacy and cyber issues. The 2025 Trust and Safety Conference gathers experts on online harms. Collaborations with Cyber Policy Center and HAI tackle AI privacy.
Partners include EFF and Mozilla for vulnerability disclosure talks. Events like "The Present and Future of Digital Privacy" discuss trends.
- Speakers series: On encryption bans, platform regs.
- Workshops: Judicial training on warrants.
- Global ties: With NoC for internet policy.
These foster dialogue and policy innovation.
Summary Table of Research Areas
| Research Area | Key Focus | Projects/Publications | Lead Experts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Privacy | Data protection, AI risks | Notice by Design, AI Index Report | Jen King |
| Electronic Surveillance | Gov't tools, legal impacts | Warrant Workshops | Albert Gidari |
| Encryption Policy | Crypto laws, FOIA research | Crypto Policy Project | Riana Pfefferkorn |
| Platform Regulation | DSA, intermediary liability | WILMap | Daphne Keller |
| Cyber Threats | State hacks, CSAM | Lawfare articles | Kristen Eichensehr |
Conclusion
Stanford's CIS stands as a beacon in privacy and cyber law research, addressing tech's double-edged sword through rigorous studies, projects, and advocacy. From privacy in AI to encryption battles, their work safeguards rights amid digital evolution. Experts like van Schewick and King drive impactful publications and events, influencing global policy. As threats grow, CIS's commitment to public interest ensures laws evolve wisely, protecting us all in the online world.
What is CIS's mission?
CIS studies technology-law interactions to promote public goods like privacy and innovation.
Who leads privacy research at CIS?
Jen King, former Director of Consumer Privacy, focuses on data disclosure and AI.
What is electronic surveillance research?
It analyzes law enforcement's expanding digital tools and their privacy effects.
How does CIS approach encryption?
Through the Crypto Policy Project, using FOIA to study decryption mandates.
What projects address smart cities?
Research on privacy in sensor data and public infrastructure.
Who is Barbara van Schewick?
CIS Faculty Director, expert in tech policy and net neutrality.
What are dark patterns?
Manipulative designs that trick users into sharing data.
How does CIS influence policy?
Via comments, publications, and events on regs like DSA.
What is the Fair Use Project?
Legal aid for cases on expression, rights, and tech.
What cyber threats does CIS study?
State hacks like Volt Typhoon and AI-generated CSAM.
Describe Notice by Design.
Uses HCI to improve privacy notices for users.
Who is Riana Pfefferkorn?
Expert on surveillance, cybersecurity, and encryption policy.
What events does CIS host?
Speakers, workshops, and conferences like Trust and Safety 2025.
How has AI impacted CIS research?
Increased focus on privacy risks and bias in systems.
What is the WILMap?
Map of global intermediary liability laws.
Who funds CIS?
Donors like Knight Foundation and Stanford budgets, independently.
What is EARN IT Act research?
Critiques for potential surveillance overreach.
How does CIS collaborate?
With Cyber Policy Center and global networks like NoC.
What publication covers cyber peace?
"The Law of Cyber Peace" on international law for attacks.
Why study child safety at CIS?
To improve reporting like CyberTipline while protecting privacy.
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