Bio
Ben Wizner is a Deputy Legal Director at the ºìÐÓÊÓÆµ and 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 ºìÐÓÊÓÆµ's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. In more than two decades at the ºìÐÓÊÓÆµ, 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
Nov 9, 2023
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?
May 3, 2022
Ask an Expert: Is My Tweet Protected Speech?
Nov 20, 2018
Edward Snowden Explains Blockchain to His Lawyer — and the Rest of Us
Apr 4, 2018
The Exile: In Memory of Judge Stephen Reinhardt
Aug 23, 2017
Artificial Intelligence at Any Cost Is a Recipe for Tyranny