State of Secure Communications in 2025
Organized by the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity and the UC Berkeley Cybersecurity Clinic
Have you ever wondered why cybersecurity professionals recommend messaging apps like Signal or use terms like “zero-knowledge encryption” and “privacy by design”? Demystify these topics and learn about the state of secure communications in 2025 for organizations and individuals.
As cybersecurity threats and the digital landscape continue to evolve, the importance of secure communication has never been more critical. This event will bring together a diverse group of seasoned industry professionals, consultants, and journalists working at the forefront of communication to share their valuable experiences and insights.
From journalists to organizations to everyday people, this information is relevant to you. During this event, attendees will have the opportunity to:
- Hear from industry leaders about the latest trends and technologies in secure communications.
- Engage in discussions about the challenges and opportunities in secure communication.
- Ask questions about communications challenges and specific use cases.
Don’t miss this chance to gain a deeper understanding of where we currently stand in secure communications, potential implications for the future of these technologies, and how users like you can remain secure as the digital landscape continues to shift.
We look forward to welcoming you and exploring the future of secure communications together!
Featured Speakers
Martin Shelton
Martin Shelton is the deputy director of digital security at Freedom of the Press Foundation. As a member of the digital security team, Martin leads research into the security needs and concerns of journalists, including studies into how journalists and media organizations confront harassment, as well as digital security education in J-schools. He also leads FPF’s security editorial efforts, the digital security digest newsletter, and the U.S. J-school digital security curriculum. As a UX researcher, he previously worked with Google Chrome and the Coral Project at The New York Times, where he learned from journalists and at-risk groups about their security concerns.
Glenn Sorrentino
Glenn Sorrentino is the executive director of Science & Design, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit product development organization in the United States, and serves on the board of advisors to Distributed Denial of Secrets. His career has focused on product design, working with companies including Fortune 500s, startups, design agencies, and the civic space. He has contributed to open-source tools, including Hush Line, Signal, OnionShare, and CalyxOS. Glenn is a USMC veteran and military whistleblower.
Holmes Wilson
Holmes Wilson is an Internet freedom activist whose work mixes mass mobilization and software tools. He is a co-founder and board member of Fight for the Future, the activism organization that was instrumental in defeating the infamous US site-blocking laws SOPA/PIPA, fighting for net neutrality rules in the US and Europe, opposing law enforcement crypto backdoors, and more recently challenging the use of face recognition tech by US law enforcement and products like Amazon Ring. He also previously co-founded Miro, a free software video player based on Bittorrent and RSS, and was a campaign manager at the Free Software Foundation. He’s currently building Quiet, a “Slackier Signal” for teams that need the security of Signal with the team features of Slack.
Facilitator
Elijah Baucom
Elijah Baucom is a digital security and privacy activist positioned at the intersection of tech and liberation. As the director of the UC Berkeley Cybersecurity Clinic (a public interest cybersecurity clinic), Elijah trains students and partners with them to support civil society organizations that are often more vulnerable and prone to politically motivated attacks. Given the current prevailing monolithic culture in cybersecurity and IT, he is intentional in making the Clinic as accessible as possible to every student on campus, regardless of area of study or tech experience. As the founder of Everyday Security, Elijah provides technical leadership, training, and solutions to social justice organizations, non-profits, co-ops, activists, and individuals.
Contact
If you have questions about this event, please contact Rachel Wesen.
Accessibility
If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting, CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) or information about mobility access in order to fully participate in this event, please contact Rachel Wesen with as much advance notice as possible and at least 7–10 days in advance of the event.