EPIC Champions of Freedom 2026

EPIC Champions of Freedom 2026 was held on Tuesday, September 22 at the True Reformer Building in Washington, D.C.

EPIC established the Champions of Freedom Awards in 2004 to honor individuals and organizations that have worked to safeguard the right to privacy, open government, and democratic values with courage and integrity.

This year, we convened over 100 advocates, organizers, lawyers, and Hill staff to talk about what it will take to stop the surveillance state.

EPIC Senior Counsel and Director of our Surveillance Oversight Program Jeramie Scott walked us through how the line between Big Tech and government power continues to blur, threatening our democratic freedoms.

Alicia Granse of Groundwork Legal, and formerly of the ACLU of Minnesota, shared lessons from her work protecting people from surveillance abuses in Minnesota. 

Georgetown Professor and Director of the Communications and Technology Law Clinic Laura Moy spoke about passing Maryland’s new data privacy law and why this moment calls for all of us to work together to protect privacy in the digital age.

EPIC does not take government or corporate funding so we deeply appreciate our sponsors and attendees that allowed us to make the Champions of Freedom 2026 Event happen this year.