Namrata Maheshwari

Namrata Maheshwari is Senior Policy Counsel and Encryption Policy Lead at Access Now, an international non-profit that works to defend and strengthen digital rights across countries. She leads the organization's work on encryption policy globally, engaging with surveillance and privacy-impacting mandates in many regions. She also leads Access Now's policy and advocacy work across South Asia, where her focus areas include data protection, content governance, cybersecurity, surveillance, internet shutdowns, and emerging tech. Previously, she worked with the Center for Democracy & Technology as a Consultant, primarily on the Freedom, Security and Technology Project. Namrata is an India qualified lawyer, enrolled with the bar council. She completed her LL.M. from Columbia Law School as a Stone Scholar, with a focus on technology policy and digital governance. Prior to that, she received her law degree from Jindal Global Law School with a scholarship for outstanding women. In the past, she has worked at a premiere corporate law firm in India, and as a litigator before Indian courts. Namrata writes op-eds for, and is quoted by, national and international media outlets.