Matt Mitchell

Matt Mitchell is a hacker, founder of CryptoHarlem, and tech fellow in the BUILD program at the Ford Foundation. In his work there, Mitchell develops cybersecurity strategies for the foundation's grantee partners. Mitchell is a well-known security researcher, operational security trainer, and data journalist. His organization, CryptoHarlem, hosts impromptu workshops that teach basic cryptography tools to the predominantly African American community in upper Manhattan. Mitchell worked as an independent digital security/counter surveillance trainer for media and humanitarian-focused private security firms. His personal work focuses on marginalized, aggressively monitored, over-policed populations in the United States.

Mitchell sits on the Network Investment Council of Reset Tech, the board of Action Squared Inc., and the advisory board of the Open Technology Fund. He was formerly a tech advisor to the Human Rights Foundation and the Internet Freedom Festival. Mitchell has also advised the Digital Security Exchange, Citizen Clinic at Berkeley University Center for Long Term Cybersecurity, The 4th Amendment Center at the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and TurnOut.

In 2021, Mitchell graced the cover of Newsweek magazine and was named one of America's Greatest Disruptors. That year, he was also awarded a Pioneer Award by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. In 2020, he was named a WIRED25 by Wired magazine, and in 2017 he was named a Human of The Year by Vice Motherboard.