Skip to main content
Back to content

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.

Access Now theme

Civil society tells U.S. Senate: Open the internet to inclusive oversight

25 May 2016

Here’s why a swift transition to global, multistakeholder administration of the internet’s domain name system makes sense for human rights.

Post
Civil society tells U.S. Senate: Open the internet to inclusive oversight
25 May 2016
Civil society tells U.S. Senate: Open the internet to inclusive oversight
|

Vietnam blocks Facebook and cracks down on human rights activists during Obama visit

23 May 2016

Vietnam has blocked Facebook during U.S. President Obama’s visit to the country and cracked down on human rights activists.

Post
Vietnam blocks Facebook and cracks down on human rights activists during Obama visit
23 May 2016
Vietnam blocks Facebook and cracks down on human rights activists during Obama visit

Uganda blocks social media (again), harms human rights

11 May 2016

For the second time this year Uganda has carried out an internet shutdown during the election period. It’s time to push back.

Post
Uganda blocks social media (again), harms human rights
11 May 2016
Uganda blocks social media (again), harms human rights
Access Now theme

Access Now sends digital rights demands to 10 tech and telco chairs

14 Apr 2016

Today we sent letters to 10 companies evaluated by Ranking Digital Rights, offering guidance for improving their practices to better respect human rights.

Post
Access Now sends digital rights demands to 10 tech and telco chairs
14 Apr 2016
Access Now sends digital rights demands to 10 tech and telco chairs
|

No more internet shutdowns! Let’s #KeepItOn.

30 Mar 2016

Join our interactive conversation on internet shutdowns and their impact on human rights, the economy, and public services.

Post
No more internet shutdowns! Let’s #KeepItOn.
30 Mar 2016
No more internet shutdowns! Let’s #KeepItOn.
Access Now theme

Don’t take their word for it: scrutinizing government transparency reports

24 Mar 2016

Reports from civil society in East Asia show that while governments are sharing more information about their requests for access to users’ data or restriction of content, sometimes the numbers aren’t adding up.

Post
Don’t take their word for it: scrutinizing government transparency reports
24 Mar 2016
Don’t take their word for it: scrutinizing government transparency reports
Access Now theme

Access Now supports U.S. FCC on consumer privacy

10 Mar 2016

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has proposed rules to govern how Internet Service Providers handle consumer data. We support these rules, while identifying areas for improvement.

Post
Access Now supports U.S. FCC on consumer privacy
10 Mar 2016
Access Now supports U.S. FCC on consumer privacy
Image: Protect our data

Verizon fined $1.35 million for its use of supercookies

7 Mar 2016

The FCC is fining Verizon $1.35 million for using supercookies — also known as zombie cookies or “unique identifier headers” (UIDHs) — to track mobile users’ web browsing behavior.

Press Release
Verizon fined $1.35 million for its use of supercookies
7 Mar 2016
Verizon fined $1.35 million for its use of supercookies
Access Now theme

Transparency for the win: What the latest reports tell us about human rights

25 Feb 2016

We’ve updated and relaunched our Transparency Reporting Index. Here’s a look at what the latest reports show about how companies are handling government demands to access users’ data or censor content.

Post
Transparency for the win: What the latest reports tell us about human rights
25 Feb 2016
Transparency for the win: What the latest reports tell us about human rights
|

Digital rights groups ask African Union, U.N. to take action on Uganda social media blackout

23 Feb 2016

After a government-ordered social media blackout in Uganda during the presidential elections, digital rights groups are asking the African Union and the United Nations to take action to fight internet shutdowns and protect free expression.

Post
Digital rights groups ask African Union, U.N. to take action on Uganda social media blackout
23 Feb 2016
Digital rights groups ask African Union, U.N. to take action on Uganda social media blackout
Privacy Overview

This website uses strictly necessary cookies for functionality, and asks if you’d like to opt-in to anonymous analytics collection. The anonymous analytic cookies are stored in your browser and perform functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you utilise the most. We use this information to improve our website layout, content, and donations practices.

Strictly Necessary

Strictly necessary cookies should be enabled at all times. These cookies are used only for fraud prevention, session integrity, and to save your cookie preferences.

Analytics

Access Now uses Matomo, an open-source, self-hosted analytics platform, to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, what people's journey across our website looks like, and the most popular pages. The data collected is stored on our own, secure servers and never shared with third parties.