Cindy Cohn is an American civil liberties attorney specializing in

Internet The Internet (or internet) is the Global network, global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a internetworking, network of networks ...

law. She represented Daniel J. Bernstein and the

Electronic Frontier Foundation The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is an American international non-profit digital rights group based in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1990 to promote Internet civil liberties. It provides funds for legal defense in court, ...

in '' Bernstein v. United States''.

Education

She received her undergraduate degree at the

University of Iowa The University of Iowa (U of I, UIowa, or Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized int ...

and the

London School of Economics The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), established in 1895, is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the University of London. The school specialises in the social sciences. Founded ...

and her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

Law Career

In 1997, Cohn was recognized by '' California Lawyer Magazine'' as one of the "Lawyers of the Year" for her work. After serving for 15 years as legal director and

general counsel A general counsel, also known as chief counsel or chief legal officer (CLO), is the chief in-house lawyer for a company or a governmental department. In a company, the person holding the position typically reports directly to the CEO, and their ...

for the

, she became its executive director in 2015. In addition to Bernstein, some of Cohn's significant cases include '' Hepting v. AT&T'' (class action against AT&T for collaborating with the

National Security Agency The National Security Agency (NSA) is an intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense, under the authority of the director of national intelligence (DNI). The NSA is responsible for global monitoring, collection, and proces ...

program to wiretap and data-mine Americans' communications), '' In re Sony BMG Tech. litigation'' (class action against

Sony BMG Sony BMG Music Entertainment was an American record company owned as a 50–50 joint venture between Sony Corporation of America and Bertelsmann. The venture's successor, the revived Sony Music, is wholly owned by Sony, following their buyout o ...

for placing dangerous

digital rights management Digital rights management (DRM) is the management of legal access to digital content. Various tools or technological protection measures, such as access control technologies, can restrict the use of proprietary hardware and copyrighted works. DRM ...

(DRM) on customers' computers), '' OPG v. Diebold'' ( Diebold was held liable for sending out unfounded cease and desist notices to

internet service provider An Internet service provider (ISP) is an organization that provides a myriad of services related to accessing, using, managing, or participating in the Internet. ISPs can be organized in various forms, such as commercial, community-owned, no ...

s (ISPs) in an effort to stop public discussion of the flaws in its electronic voting machines), and '' DVD CCA v. Bunner'' (representing Andrew Bunner against the DVD Copy Control Association defending his right to republish a computer program that he found republished elsewhere on the Internet).

Awards and honors

In 2006, Cohn was named one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America by the '' National Law Journal''. In November 2018, she was featured among "America's Top 50 Women In Tech" by ''

Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...

''. Cohn also serves on the board of directors of the nonprofits Human Rights Advocates and the Verified Voting Foundation.

References

External links

Cindy Cohn's Bio on EFF Site

Human Rights Advocates Home Page
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cohn, Cindy 21st-century American lawyers American Jews American lawyers Copyright activists Living people Year of birth missing (living people) University of Michigan Law School alumni University of Iowa alumni Alumni of the London School of Economics Electronic Frontier Foundation people 20th-century American lawyers 20th-century American women lawyers 21st-century American women lawyers