Ben Wizner

Ben Wizner serves as the director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, focusing on civil liberties at the intersection of national security and technology. Wizner has led litigation challenging government surveillance, airport security policies, extraordinary rendition programs, targeted killings, and torture practices. His experience at the ACLU has established him as a prominent authority on privacy rights, surveillance law, and digital rights.

As principal legal advisor to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, Wizner has addressed complex legal and geopolitical issues related to electronic surveillance and government secrecy. He is featured in the Academy Award-winning documentary "Citizenfour," where he discusses Snowden's motivations and the broader implications for public interest and privacy law. Wizner's congressional testimonies and contributions to Time Magazine have played a role in shaping policy discussions on free speech and privacy.

In his roles as deputy legal director at the ACLU and director of its Center for Democracy, Wizner continues to litigate cases involving protest rights and online expression. He also teaches as an adjunct professor at New York University School of Law. Wizner regularly appears on broadcast platforms such as Meet the Press and Democracy Now! and delivers lectures at institutions including University of Virginia School of Law. Through these activities, Wizner provides analysis and guidance on safeguarding democratic freedoms and advancing civil liberties in the digital era.