Nicole Ozer of UC Law SF’s Center for Constitutional Democracy Appointed to Board of California Privacy Protection Agency

Nicole Ozer looks at the camera wearing glasses and a dark shirt, sitting on a red chair.

Nicole Ozer, who leads UC Law SF’s Center for Constitutional Democracy, steps into a statewide oversight role focused on protecting and promoting consumer privacy.

  • Nicole Ozer has been appointed to the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) Board by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas.
  • The CPPA Board oversees rulemaking and enforcement of California’s consumer privacy laws.
  • Ozer, who leads UC Law SF’s Center for Constitutional Democracy, brings decades of leadership experience in civil liberties, technology law, and democratic governance.

 

Nicole A. Ozer, a leading civil liberties and technology law expert, has been appointed to the Board of the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA), the independent agency charged with enforcing and implementing California’s sweeping consumer privacy laws.

Ozer currently serves as the inaugural executive director of the Center for Constitutional Democracy at UC Law San Francisco, where her work focuses on innovative strategies to defend and advance rights, justice, and democracy. The CPPA announced Ozer’s appointment by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas on Jan. 12.

The CPPA Board plays a central role in safeguarding the privacy rights of Californians. The Board governs the agency responsible for enforcing the California Consumer Privacy Act, the Delete Act, and the Opt Me Out Act — laws that give consumers control over how businesses collect, use, and share personal data. The Board sets enforcement priorities, adopts regulations, and ensures that privacy protections keep pace with rapid developments in technology.

Board Chair Jennifer Urban praised Ozer’s appointment, noting her vast knowledge of privacy-related legal issues and long record of public service.

“She has extensive legal and policy expertise in the fields of privacy and surveillance, AI, and digital speech and a long history of service to Californians,” Urban said. “Her knowledge and experience will be a valuable asset to the agency and to California.”

Before joining UC Law SF, Ozer was the founding director and longtime leader of the Technology and Civil Liberties Program at the ACLU of Northern California. Her prior roles include serving as a Technology and Human Rights Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, a visiting researcher at the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology, and a fellow at Stanford’s Digital Civil Society Lab. She was recognized by a California Senate resolution for “unwavering dedication to defending and promoting civil liberties in the digital world.”

In a statement following her appointment, Ozer emphasized the need to make sure that privacy rights are meaningfully implemented and enforced.

“This is a critical time for thoughtful, collaborative work to ensure that the robust privacy rights guaranteed to all people in California are real in practice,” Ozer said. “I look forward to bringing my knowledge and experience to help support the important work of the agency.”

The CPPA is governed by a five-member Board, with appointments made by the Governor, Attorney General, Senate Rules Committee, and Assembly Speaker.

Ozer’s appointment strengthens the CPPA Board’s expertise at a time when privacy enforcement, AI governance, and democratic accountability are increasingly intertwined, both in California and beyond.