13th Annual Conference on Computers, Freedom & Privacy

Alex Fowler

Alex Fowler is a recognized authority on data privacy with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and leads the firm's privacy practice for the Western region. Prior to joining PwC, Alex was the Senior Director of Business Development and Information Policy for Zero-Knowledge Systems, a leading software company developing privacy-enabling technologies and services. He represented the company on policy matters in the US, served as a spokesperson, and directed its enterprise privacy services practice. Under his leadership, Zero-Knowledge provided strategic privacy services to high-tech companies including several Fortune 100 companies, and he played a pivotal role in the development of the company's flagship enterprise software application for managing privacy. Alex began his career with the American Association for the Advancement of Science where he managed projects on genetics and ethics funded by the Human Genome Project, as well as studies and activities on emerging policy issues associated with the Internet. Alex spent the next two years with the Electronic Frontier Foundation leading programmatic activities associated with online privacy, cryptography, and intellectual property. He is credited with founding the Kosovo Privacy Project and launching the Campaign for Audiovisual Free Expression both aimed at protecting important rights of citizens in the digital age. A frequent speaker and media commentator on social and policy issues associated with privacy, Alex has presented at such events as Fortune's Summit on E-Security, AAAS Annual Meeting, and CFP, appeared on shows on CNN, CNBC, and PBS, and his comments have appeared in stories published by USA Today, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and The Red Herring. In addition to his work for PwC, Alex is the chairman of Geneforum, a nonprofit organization he co-founded to promote public dialogue and education about genetics. Alex received his graduate degree in science, technology and public policy at George Washington University, and his undergraduate degree in bioethics from Brown University.