Cindy Cohn’s “Privacy’s Defender” Examines Three Decades of Digital Surveillance Battles

A novel book by Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Executive Director Cindy Cohn, titled “Privacy’s Defender: My Thirty-Year Fight Against Digital Surveillance,” chronicles her three decades of legal battles defending digital rights. The book, released by MIT Press, was the subject of a conversation with Cory Doctorow, bestselling novelist and EFF Special Advisor, at City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco on March 10, 2026.

The Fight for Digital Freedom

“Privacy’s Defender” details Cohn’s involvement in pivotal legal cases, including the “Crypto Wars,” challenges to NSA surveillance programs, and fights against FBI gag orders. These battles, the book argues, were fundamentally about the future of free speech, privacy, and power in the digital age. The book is described as part memoir and part call to action.

Conversation at City Lights Bookstore

The discussion between Cohn and Doctorow, held at the iconic City Lights Bookstore, offered insights into the book’s themes and Cohn’s experiences. A recording of the conversation is available via Simplecast, the Internet Archive, and YouTube.

National Book Tour

Cohn is undertaking a national book tour with stops planned in several cities, including Seattle, Silicon Valley, Denver, Boston, Ann Arbor, Iowa City, Washington DC, and New York City. More information about the tour can be found at EFF’s website.

Future Podcast Series

The EFF is planning a special podcast series featuring key players and moments from “Privacy’s Defender,” building on the conversation with Cory Doctorow.

Key Legal Cases Highlighted

The book and related discussions draw attention to several significant legal cases:

• The Crypto Wars: Bernstein v. US Department of Justice
• NSA Spying: Hepting v. AT&T
• NSA Spying: Jewel v. NSA
• EFF’s National Security Letter lawsuits