The privacy and digital rights world is remembering **Barry Steinhardt**, a trailblazing attorney and advocate who passed away last week at the age of 73. Steinhardt's career was defined by his unwavering commitment to safeguarding individual liberties as technology advanced. He was among the first legal professionals to specialize in the complex intersection of technology and privacy, a field that was still nascent in the early days of the internet. ### A Legacy of Legal Victories A Connecticut native, Steinhardt's early career saw him lead the Vermont and Pennsylvania affiliates of the **American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)** before becoming an associate director at the national organization. It was there that he played a crucial role in the battle to overturn significant portions of the **Communications Decency Act**. This effort culminated in the **U.S. Supreme Court's** landmark 1997 decision, *Reno v. ACLU*, a foundational case for free speech online. In 1998, Steinhardt took a leave from the **ACLU** to serve as president of the **Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)**, an organization at the forefront of defending civil liberties in the digital world. He returned to the **ACLU** in 1999, where he continued to shape the discourse around technology and rights. ### Founding the Program on Technology and Liberty His dedication to the cause led him to found the **ACLU's Program on Technology and Liberty** in 2002, an initiative that has since become instrumental in addressing emerging privacy challenges. Even after retiring from the **ACLU**, Steinhardt remained deeply involved, serving as a senior advisor to London-based **Privacy International**. ### Influential Leadership and Mentorship Steinhardt's influence extended to numerous significant panels and boards. He chaired the 2003 **Computer Freedom and Privacy Conference** and contributed to discussions on national driver's license standards, census advisory committees, and genetics policy. He was also selected as a member of the **US delegation to the G-8 Government and Private Sector Tokyo conference on Cyber Crime** and advised the **Czech Helsinki Committee**. **Nicole Ozer**, **EFF** Executive Director, reflected on his impact: “Barry led many critical technology and civil liberties fights and was an important mentor to me and others in the field. Barry’s influential work across strategy to defend and advance privacy rights and safeguard people against surveillance has made its mark on the law and policy of our digital world and protected the rights and safety of people across the United States and around the world.” **Barry Steinhardt's** passing marks the end of an era for digital rights advocacy, but his profound contributions will continue to resonate for generations of IT security professionals and privacy-conscious users.