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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.

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Access joins demonstrations to ‘Restore the 4th’ in the United States

5 Jul 2013

Hundreds in New York marched to protest the U.S. government’s unlawful surveillance programs and to support privacy rights.

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Access joins demonstrations to ‘Restore the 4th’ in the United States
5 Jul 2013
Access joins demonstrations to ‘Restore the 4th’ in the United States
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Telenor and Ooredoo win Myanmar telecoms licenses

27 Jun 2013

Myanmar has chosen the two winners of its new telecoms licenses, Telenor Mobile Communications of Norway and Ooredoo of Qatar. After winning the highly competitive process, they will have their work cut out for them, both operationally and in with regards to human rights.

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Telenor and Ooredoo win Myanmar telecoms licenses
27 Jun 2013
Telenor and Ooredoo win Myanmar telecoms licenses
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Access delivers Remedy Plan for telcos to redress human rights harms

24 Jun 2013

To help telcos address these concerns, Access has developed guidance for telcos and other information and communication technology (ICT) firms in our new paper, Forgotten Pillar: The Telco Remedy Plan. The paper will be officially released at a special event open to the public in Washington, DC, on Monday June 24th.

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Access delivers Remedy Plan for telcos to redress human rights harms
24 Jun 2013
Access delivers Remedy Plan for telcos to redress human rights harms
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Privacy board awakens after NSA spying is revealed

21 Jun 2013

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) is the government oversight body principally charged with protecting privacy and civil liberties in the United States. However, in the eight years since it was established, the PCLOB has met only infrequently. But with the recent revelations of unconstitutional massive data collection by the NSA, it seems the PCLOB’s long run of applied irrelevance may have finally come to an end – and not a moment too soon.

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Privacy board awakens after NSA spying is revealed
21 Jun 2013
Privacy board awakens after NSA spying is revealed
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Facebook joins GNI amid moves to improve privacy and expression impacts

23 May 2013

Access welcomes the news that Facebook will join the Global Network Initiative (GNI), bolstering the group’s roster of some of the biggest firms in communications technology.

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Facebook joins GNI amid moves to improve privacy and expression impacts
23 May 2013
Facebook joins GNI amid moves to improve privacy and expression impacts
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Myanmar bid by world’s largest telcos puts user rights in play

26 Apr 2013

The proposed Myanmar partnership with China Mobile is a chance for Vodafone to test and improve its policies, and train its partner in human rights best practices.

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Myanmar bid by world’s largest telcos puts user rights in play
26 Apr 2013
Myanmar bid by world’s largest telcos puts user rights in play
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Google pushes back against rising removal requests

25 Apr 2013

Google released its semi-annual transparency report today, indicating an increase in government requests for content removal worldwide–although more than half came from a handful of countries.

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Google pushes back against rising removal requests
25 Apr 2013
Google pushes back against rising removal requests
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Kiobel decision leads US away from global trends on accountability

24 Apr 2013

With the Kiobel decision, the Supreme Court missed an opportunity to send a coherent statement that the “law of nations” is still alive and kicking.

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Kiobel decision leads US away from global trends on accountability
24 Apr 2013
Kiobel decision leads US away from global trends on accountability
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White House — and 14 year olds — reject CISPA

17 Apr 2013

The White House issued a veto threat to congress, saying if CISPA doesn’t include privacy safeguards and civilian oversight, President Obama won’t sign the bill.

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White House — and 14 year olds — reject CISPA
17 Apr 2013
White House — and 14 year olds — reject CISPA
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Microsoft releases report on law enforcement requests

25 Mar 2013

Last week Microsoft released its first-ever transparency report, detailing its approach and response to law enforcement data requests worldwide.

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Microsoft releases report on law enforcement requests
25 Mar 2013
Microsoft releases report on law enforcement requests
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