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Peter Micek, Esq.

General Counsel

Peter Micek is General Counsel and UN Policy Manager at Access Now, based in New York City. Peter Micek leads the Legal arm, managing risk to global programming and operations, closely with the organization’s Digital Security Helpline, Grants, and RightsCon teams. The Legal arm engages in strategic litigation and bolsters legal support for civic space online and civil society actors globally. As UN Policy Manager, Peter advances international norms and law on digital rights, including on privacy and spyware, censorship and internet shutdowns, and digital identity programs. Peter is also Lecturer at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) on internet governance and public policy in the digital age, and sits on the Advisory Board of the Univ. of Oklahoma College of Law’s Center for International Business and Human Rights, and formerly the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Future of Cybersecurity. A lawyer by training, Peter completed a JD cum laude at the University of San Francisco School of Law, and in 2010 published “A Genealogy of Home Visits,” critiquing surveillance of at-risk communities. As a law student, Peter defended independent journalists and engaged in Freedom of Information litigation at First Amendment Project. Peter studied political science and journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He is licensed by the state bars of California and New York, and has no cats.

Academics & experts tell Senate to avoid data retention mandates

18 Sep 2014

Today twenty-two professors of law, technology, and human rights sent a letter to Senate leaders urging them to keep data retention out of the USA Freedom (USAF) Act.

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Academics & experts tell Senate to avoid data retention mandates
18 Sep 2014
Academics & experts tell Senate to avoid data retention mandates

Spotlighting surveillance: Where states can lead on transparency reporting

17 Sep 2014

States have lagged far behind other stakeholders when it comes to reporting on their surveillance activity, especially on national security matters.

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Spotlighting surveillance: Where states can lead on transparency reporting
17 Sep 2014
Spotlighting surveillance: Where states can lead on transparency reporting

Russian Email Giant Takes Over VKontakte, ‘Russia’s Facebook’

16 Sep 2014
News
Russian Email Giant Takes Over VKontakte, ‘Russia’s Facebook’
16 Sep 2014
Russian Email Giant Takes Over VKontakte, ‘Russia’s Facebook’
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First TeliaSonera transparency report released

25 Aug 2014

The company disclosed surveillance requests from its two home jurisdictions, along with promises of more comprehensive reports to be released every six months.

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First TeliaSonera transparency report released
25 Aug 2014
First TeliaSonera transparency report released
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UN investigates business and human rights in Azerbaijan

22 Aug 2014

This week, Azerbaijan is hosting experts from the UN to examine the impact of business activities on human rights in the country.

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UN investigates business and human rights in Azerbaijan
22 Aug 2014
UN investigates business and human rights in Azerbaijan
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Transparency report a bright spot in busy Wikimedia month

18 Aug 2014

Wikimedia appears to be taking strong actions to protect user data from surveillance and censorship.

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Transparency report a bright spot in busy Wikimedia month
18 Aug 2014
Transparency report a bright spot in busy Wikimedia month
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US must remedy NSA’s 2012 Syrian internet shutdown

15 Aug 2014

In a recent interview, former National Security Agency contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed that the Syrian government was not to blame for a nationwide internet blackout on Nov. 29, 2012, the NSA was.

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US must remedy NSA’s 2012 Syrian internet shutdown
15 Aug 2014
US must remedy NSA’s 2012 Syrian internet shutdown
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Vodafone hears Access calls to go beyond transparency

30 Jul 2014

Speaking at Vodafone’s annual shareholder meeting in London on Tuesday, July 29, Access Senior Policy Counsel Peter Micek challenged the company to take a greater role in stopping government surveillance.

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Vodafone hears Access calls to go beyond transparency
30 Jul 2014
Vodafone hears Access calls to go beyond transparency
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Update: SMS finally unblocked in Central African Republic

25 Jul 2014

Update: SMS finally unblocked in Central African Republic

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Update: SMS finally unblocked in Central African Republic
25 Jul 2014
Update: SMS finally unblocked in Central African Republic
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U.S. may grant rights to EU citizens under Privacy Act

16 Jul 2014

On June 25, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced the Obama administration is seeking to extend to EU citizens several privacy protections in U.S. law, which today are only available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. If the U.S. Congress follows through and passes legislation to this effect, Europeans will gain access to U.S. courts for certain privacy offences, for the first time.

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U.S. may grant rights to EU citizens under Privacy Act
16 Jul 2014
U.S. may grant rights to EU citizens under Privacy Act