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Justin Brookman

Thought Leader

Justin Brookman serves as Director of Technology Policy at Consumer Reports, where he works to hold AdTech companies accountable for data collection and tracking practices and translates complex technical surveillance mechanisms into policy arguments for legislators and regulators. Prior to Consumer Reports, he served as Director of Consumer Privacy in the FTC's Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, and before that as Director of the Privacy Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT). Across these roles, he has been a consistent voice in debates over federal privacy legislation, data broker regulation, and the limits of behavioral advertising.

Last updated Jun 6, 2026 by the ATDb Editorial Team

Role
Director of Technology Policy
Company
Consumer Reports
Based
Washington, DC, United States
Years in industry
15 years

Bio

Justin Brookman serves as Director of Technology Policy at Consumer Reports, where he works to hold AdTech companies accountable for data collection and tracking practices and translates complex technical surveillance mechanisms into policy arguments for legislators and regulators. Prior to Consumer Reports, he served as Director of Consumer Privacy in the FTC's Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, and before that as Director of the Privacy Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT). Across these roles, he has been a consistent voice in debates over federal privacy legislation, data broker regulation, and the limits of behavioral advertising.

Career

  • Director of Consumer Privacy, Division of Privacy and Identity Protection

    Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · approx. 2010-2015

  • Director, Privacy Project

    Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) · approx. 2007-2010

Expertise & education

Expertise

Consumer Privacy RegulationDo Not Track StandardsOnline Behavioral AdvertisingData Broker RegulationCookie Tracking and Device FingerprintingComprehensive Privacy LegislationFTC Enforcement PolicySurveillance Capitalism

Education

  • J.D., New York University School of Law
  • B.A., University of Virginia

Speaking topics

Federal Privacy Legislation and What It Should IncludeThe Data Broker Ecosystem and Consumer HarmDo Not Track and the Limits of Industry Self-RegulationOnline Advertising, Tracking Technologies, and Consumer RightsFTC Enforcement and the Future of Privacy Regulation

Recognition

Notable achievements

  • Led FTC's consumer privacy division during the development of Do Not Track standards, directly challenging the AdTech industry's tracking infrastructure
  • Played a key role in shaping the FTC's 2012 Privacy Report, which set the framework for subsequent U.S. privacy policy debates
  • Testified before U.S. Congress on multiple occasions on consumer privacy, data brokers, and digital advertising practices
  • Contributed to Consumer Reports' Digital Lab initiatives exposing data collection practices of major platforms and AdTech companies

Publications

  • Contributor to FTC reports on privacy, data brokers, and mobile security (2010-2015)
  • Various op-eds and policy papers on consumer privacy and digital advertising regulation