2025-08-05 –, Misora
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is thrilled to return to BSides Las Vegas and delve into policy issues that matter most to the security community. At this interactive session, our panelists will share updates on critical digital rights issues and EFF's ongoing efforts to safeguard privacy, combat surveillance, and advocate for freedom of expression. From discussions on hardware hacking to navigating legal and policy landscapes, we invite attendees to engage in dynamic conversations with our experts. This session isn't about passive lectures; it's about fostering meaningful exchanges on today's most pressing policy issues and addressing your most burning questions. We will be joined by EFF’s Staff Attorney Hannah Zhao; Grassroots Advocacy Organizer Chris Vines; Staff Attorney Lisa Femia, and Director of Engineering Alexis Hancock.
Panelists from the EFF Staff will give brief updates on key topics in their expertise before turning it over to BSides attendees to ask their burning questions about policy, advocacy and making the future of tech brighter. It's a dynamic session fostering engaging discussions on digital rights featuring an EFF staff attorney, activist, and public interest technologist.
Moderator Hannah Zhao (she/her) is a Senior Staff Attorney on EFF’s Coders Rights Project. Her work with CRP protects hackers, researchers, and tinkerers on the digital frontier through legal defense, amicus briefs, and education. She also works to push back on emerging surveillance technologies like face recognition, electronic monitoring, and government drones. Hannah has a background in computer science, criminal justice, and international human rights law before her time at EFF.
Chris Vines (he/him) is EFF's Grassroots Advocacy Organizer, working with members of the Electronic Frontier Alliance (EFA). With over a decade of experience in organizing and having been a part of over 50 successful electoral & non-profit campaigns, Chris has been instrumental in building progressive bases in several states and is passionate about mobilizing people and getting them the tools needed to bring about progressive change.
Lisa Femia (she/her) is a Staff Attorney on EFF's civil liberties team. Her work focuses on surveillance, privacy, free speech, and the impact of technology on civil rights and civil liberties. Lisa came to EFF from Hogan Lovells US LLP, where she maintained a robust pro bono practice centered on democracy reform, criminal justice, and civil rights.
Alexis Hancock (she/her) is EFF’s Director of Engineering on our Public Interest Technologist team. She researches an intersection of issues on digital rights, encryption, and consumer technology. She is also well known for managing the Certbot project, advocating for open technology standards and for unveiling insecurities in consumer devices.
Chris is the Grassroots Advocacy Organizer for EFF, working with members of the EFA. Chris previously served as a Campaign Manager & Strategist for various political and non-profit campaigns across the country. With over a decade of experience in organizing and having been a part of over 50 successful electoral & non-profit campaigns, Chris has been instrumental in building progressive bases in several states and is passionate about mobilizing people and getting them the tools needed to bring about progressive change