Mike Benz

Mike Benz is an American policy analyst and the executive director of the Foundation for Freedom Online , a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing free speech and digital liberties online. Benz has publicly identified as a "proud Jew," a descendant of Holocaust survivors from Poland, and noted that he was Bar Mitzvahed. Previously, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Communications and Information Policy in the U.S. Department of State 's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs , where he contributed to cyber policy formulation and international negotiations. Benz has drawn public attention for his critiques of government-involved censorship mechanisms, notably through a 2024 presentation at the National Conservatism Conference in Washington, DC , where he analyzed the "whole-of-society" censorship framework used against perceived misinformation. His work emphasizes the interplay between state actors, NGOs , and technology platforms in shaping online discourse. Benz maintains an active presence on X (formerly Twitter) under the handle @MikeBenzCyber , where he frequently posts commentary, conducts livestreams, and shares videos of his own piano playing.

Prior to his State Department role, Benz served as a speechwriter in the White House for President Trump and advised on technology policy.

Mike Benz served in the U.S. State Department during the Trump administration , entering government service in a role focused on international technology policy.

He held the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Communications and Information Policy within the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs , appointed on November 24, 2020, and serving until approximately January 2021 at the end of the Trump administration.

In this capacity, Benz's broad responsibilities encompassed advancing U.S. interests in global communications frameworks and information policy through diplomatic engagements.

Following his government service, Benz transitioned to leading nonprofit efforts on digital freedoms .

As Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Communications and Information Policy at the U.S. State Department , Mike Benz managed the cyber portfolio, focusing on the formulation of U.S. foreign policy related to international communications and information technology . His responsibilities included developing strategies to advance U.S. interests in cyberspace , emphasizing secure and open digital infrastructure amid global technological competition.

Benz was involved in negotiating aspects of international cyber policy, contributing to diplomatic efforts that shaped U.S. positions on cross-border data flows, cybersecurity norms , and technology governance . This work addressed challenges such as countering adversarial cyber threats and promoting international agreements that aligned with U.S. priorities for a free and secure internet.

Mike Benz serves as the founder and Executive Director of the Foundation for Freedom Online (FFO), a nonprofit watchdog organization focused on combating online censorship and promoting free speech and digital liberties . His background as a former U.S. State Department official who worked on international communications and information technology policy positioned him to lead the organization.

In this role, Benz directs FFO's operations, overseeing efforts to safeguard online expression.

FFO's stated goals center on functioning as a free speech watchdog to restore the promise of a free and open Internet , including combating censorship threats in digital spaces. The organization's mission is nonpartisan and centered on internet freedom, with no specific Jewish affiliation or focus.