News & Commentary written by Ben Wizner

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Ben Wizner

Deputy Legal Director and Director, Center for Democracy

ACLU

Role: ÌÒ×ÓÊÓÆµLeadership

Bio

Ben Wizner is a Deputy Legal Director at the ÌÒ×ÓÊÓÆµand Director of its Center for Democracy, which encompasses the organization’s work on free speech, privacy, immigrants’ rights, voting rights, human rights, and national security. Prior to assuming this role, Ben was the director of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. In more than two decades at the ACLU, Ben has litigated cases involving the right to protest, freedom of expression online, government surveillance practices, airport security policies, targeted killing, and torture. Since July of 2013, he has been the principal legal advisor to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Ben is a graduate of Harvard College and New York University School of Law and was a law clerk to the Hon. Stephen Reinhardt of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.


Featured work

Sep 18, 2025

Protecting Free Speech in the Face of Government Retaliation

Protecting Free Speech in the Face of Government Retaliation

May 2, 2024

Answering Your Student Speech Questions

Answering Your Student Speech Questions

Nov 9, 2023

We’ve Defended Trump’s First Amendment Rights, but his Latest Jan. 6 Indictment Claims are Nonsense

We’ve Defended Trump’s First Amendment Rights, but his Latest Jan. 6 Indictment Claims are Nonsense

May 10, 2022

Ask an Expert: What are My Speech Rights At School?

Ask an Expert: What are My Speech Rights At School?

May 3, 2022

Ask an Expert: Is My Tweet Protected Speech?

Ask an Expert: Is My Tweet Protected Speech?

Apr 26, 2022

Ask an Expert: What Is Free Speech?

Ask an Expert: What Is Free Speech?

Apr 15, 2019

The Assange Indictment and Press Freedoms

The Assange Indictment and Press Freedoms

Nov 20, 2018

Edward Snowden Explains Blockchain to His Lawyer — and the Rest of Us

Edward Snowden Explains Blockchain to His Lawyer — and the Rest of Us

Apr 4, 2018

The Exile: In Memory of Judge Stephen Reinhardt

The Exile: In Memory of Judge Stephen Reinhardt

Aug 23, 2017

Artificial Intelligence at Any Cost Is a Recipe for Tyranny

Artificial Intelligence at Any Cost Is a Recipe for Tyranny