Press Release

ADL Announces Yael Eisenstat to Lead Center for Technology and Society

Experienced advocate for tech transparency and accountability to lead ADL’s efforts to combat online hate and harassment

New York, NY, September 29, 2022 … ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) today announced that it has hired Yael Eisenstat as Vice President, where she will lead the Center for Technology and Society (CTS). Eisenstat is an experienced leader and outspoken advocate for transparency and accountability in the tech industry.

Eisenstat has spent more than 20 years working around the globe on democracy and security issues as an intelligence officer, diplomat, White House advisor, senior Facebook official in charge of elections integrity for political ads, and vocal critic of the harms that social media has inflicted on democracy and societies worldwide. She most recently served as the senior advisor for tech and democracy at the Institute for Security and Technology, where she co-chaired the “Digital Cognition and Democracy Initiative.”

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“At a time when disinformation is rampant online and social media platforms continue to facilitate the spread of hate and extremism, we are doubling down on our work to keep online companies transparent and accountable for the content they host,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “Yael’s broad array of experiences both inside and outside the tech industry will be invaluable in advancing our work fighting the alarming rise of online hate and harassment.”

Following her exit from Facebook in 2018, she spoke openly about her frustrations with Facebook’s lack of seriousness in addressing its responsibility to secure elections and has continued to voice her perspectives on changes the tech industry needs to make. She was a Future of Democracy Fellow at Berggruen Institute in 2021-2022, a Researcher-In-Residence at Betalab in 2020-2021 and a visiting fellow at Cornell Tech’s Digital Life Initiative. She was also an adjunct professor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs. She holds an M.A. in International Affairs from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

“ADL has been a leader in holding tech companies accountable for hate and extremism on their platforms, lifting up the voices and experiences of those most impacted, and ensuring that online digital spaces are safe, respectful and inclusive for all people,” said Eisenstat. “I’m excited to join this team as it leads the charge against online antisemitism, disinformation, hate and harassment.”

ADL recently announced the REPAIR Plan, a comprehensive framework for platforms and policymakers to take meaningful action to decrease online hate and extremism.

Building on ADL’s century of experience building a world without hate, the ADL Center for Technology and Society serves as a resource to tech platforms and develops proactive solutions to fight hate both online and offline. CTS works at the intersection of technology and civil rights through education, research and advocacy.
 

ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all.