Timothy H. Edgar

Timothy H. Edgar is a professor of the practice of computer science at Brown University and a senior fellow at Brown’s Watson School of International and Public Affairs. He co-founded Brown’s cybersecurity master’s program and teaches cybersecurity law at Harvard Law School. His expertise spans cybersecurity policy, national security, privacy rights, and intelligence reform. Edgar served in senior national security roles under President Obama, including as the first privacy official for the White House National Security Staff, and previously worked at the ACLU advocating for civil liberties.

Edgar holds a JD from Harvard Law School (1997) and a BA from Dartmouth College (1994). His research focuses on balancing technological innovation with privacy and security, particularly in government surveillance practices. His seminal book Beyond Snowden (2017) won the 2018 Civil Liberties Prize for its analysis of NSA reforms. He frequently comments on cybersecurity law and policy in national media, including recent analyses of the TikTok ban’s constitutional implications.

Edgar’s academic contributions include over a dozen influential articles on topics like the legal ramifications of botnet takedowns, judicial interpretations of cybercrime laws, and the intersection of gun control and national security watchlists. He advises policymakers on digital governance and regularly testifies before Congress on emerging threats in cybersecurity and surveillance.