Digital Rights Advocate Alexander Macgillivray Joins EFF Board

The Electronic Frontier Foundation announced the addition of Alexander "amac" Macgillivray to its Board of Directors. Macgillivray brings extensive experience from government service and major technology companies, having held senior legal roles at Twitter and Google as well as positions within the Obama and Biden administrations.

During his time in the Biden Administration, Macgillivray served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer in the Office of Science and Technology Policy. He held a comparable role during the Obama Administration. Among his responsibilities were co-authoring the Biden Administration's Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights and managing numerous AI-related initiatives, including organizing an AI CEO convening, directing a federal AI policy working group, and overseeing development of the National AI Research and Development Strategic Plan and National AI Research Resource.

At Twitter, where he served as General Counsel from 2009 to 2013, Macgillivray oversaw the Corporate Development, Public Policy, Communications, and Trust & Safety teams. Earlier, from 2003 to 2009, he worked as Deputy General Counsel at Google, where he established the Product Counsel team.

One of the things I am currently focused on is positively impacting AI development. The EFF is uniquely situated for that purpose because it combines top-notch legal, technical and advocacy staff with a long history of fighting for people's rights while encouraging the positive development of technology. I'm thrilled to be joining the board.

Alexander Macgillivray

Macgillivray joins the EFF Board under the leadership of Board Chair Gigi Sohn and Vice Chair Brian Behlendorf. Other board members include Erica Astrella, Anil Dash, Sarah Deutsch, Tadayoshi Kohno, Pamela Samuelson, Bruce Schneier, James Vasile, Tarah Wheeler, and Jonathan Zittrain.

The EFF Board is thrilled to have Alex join our ranks. I've worked with Alex for over two decades and have always been impressed not only with his intelligence and grace, but also his ability to think outside the box. His deep experience with non-profit boards will be invaluable as EFF enters a new and exciting chapter.

Gigi Sohn

Beyond his EFF role, Macgillivray currently serves on the boards of The Trust & Safety Foundation, The Trust & Safety Professional Association, and Public Resource. He is also an affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. His educational background includes a law degree from Harvard, a bachelor's degree in Reasoning & Decision Making from Princeton University, and a New Jersey Teaching Certificate.

The vanguard leadership of EFF Board members to ensure technology supports rights, justice, freedom, and innovation for all people has never been more critical. Many of the threats that once seemed hypothetical are now reality and the work of our EFF community is fundamental to the future of our countries, our livelihoods, and literally our lives. I feel fortunate to have amac join as a Board member as I begin my tenure as Executive Director. His diverse expertise will be invaluable to make sure that EFF is stronger than ever to meet this moment.

Nicole Ozer, EFF Executive Director

Board members at the EFF are responsible for maintaining the organization's managerial and financial oversight. The EFF operates as the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting civil liberties in the digital realm.