Non-profit

Project Liberty

Website:

Projectliberty.io/

Location:

New York, NY

Tax ID:

87-3213298

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $5,000,000
Expenses: $4,700,000
Assets: $300,000

Type:

Grantmaking Organization

Formation:

2021

Founder:

Frank McCourt

CEO:

Tomicah Tillemann

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $13,800,000
Expenses: $39,098,768
Assets: $1,261,127

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Project Liberty is a grantmaking organization comprised of experts claiming to advocate for increased data privacy for indidivuals on the internet. In May 2024, the nonprofit’s founder Frank McCourt, also a major donor to President Joe Biden, 1 revealed that the group had a plan to acquire TikTok. 2

Background

Project Liberty was founded in 2021 by Frank McCourt, a major donor to President Joe Biden, 1 with the goal of decentralizing social media. 3

Project Liberty is a grantmaking organization of technologists, academics, policymakers, social innovators and citizens that claim to advocate for protecting the right to privacy for individuals on the internet 4

Staff

Frank McCourt is the founder of Project Liberty and is the executive chairman of the Project Liberty Institute (formerly the McCourt Institute). 5 Frank is an alumnus of Georgetown University and the founding donor of Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy. 6

Tomicah Tillemann assumed the role acting chief executive officer at Project Liberty in January 2024. 7 Previously, Tomicah was a speechwriter for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and he worked for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 8

Maria Cancian is a board member at the Project Liberty Institute. 9 Maria also works as the Dean of the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. 10

Angela Blackwell is a trustee on the board of Project Liberty. Angela is also the Founder in Residence at Policy Link. 11

Other trustees include John DeGioia, 12 president of Georgetown University; Eric Liu, 13 co-founder and CEO of Citizen University; Dan Porterfield, 14 president and CEO of Aspen Institute; and Daniel Sachs, founder and CEO of P Capital Partners. 15

Advocacy Efforts

Project Liberty developed the Decentralized Social Networking Protocol (DSNP), an open-source framework for social media that allows individuals to use or build on it without corporate control, enabling users to manage access to their data and decide with whom to share it. 16

The nonprofit also hosts various virtual and in-person workshops to promote ideas about the ethical use of technology, 17 expansion of Web 3, 18 the need to decentralize the governance of the internet, 19 and challenges brought about by the increasing influence of technology in the digital age. 20

In a 2022 conversation with the Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, hosted by the Project Liberty Institute, the nonprofit condemned big tech companies like Facebook for unethical handling of user data and erosion of consumer trust. 21

Project Liberty runs a Youth, Mental Health and Tech Campaign that seeks to protect the mental and physical health of young people by stopping the use of addictive design features in technology. 22

On October 12, 2022, Project Liberty criticized the government for its failure to establish policies such as a national privacy bill or an anti-hacking bill that would protect internet consumers. 23

From October 11 to October 20, 2023, Project Liberty conducted a survey of over 14,000 adults in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, South Africa, India, and China to emphasize the need for artificial intelligence regulations. The survey revealed that an average of 88 percent of respondents across these countries supported government regulation of AI. 24

During a November Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, Project Liberty’s founder, Frank McCourt, advocated for the complete overhaul of the internet. Frank McCourt urged social media companies to transition their users to Project Liberty’s Decentralized Social Networking Protocol, asserting that it would allow users to reclaim ownership of their data and digital identity. 25

On X (formerly Twitter), Project Liberty criticized Amazon’s refusal to allow police to request video footage from Ring doorbells without a warrant, arguing that self-regulation fails to address privacy and accountability issues. 26

The nonprofit claimed that Google’s “Year in Search,” its annual summary of trending topics, exploits consumers by keeping them engaged. 27

Project Liberty recognized Instagram’s efforts to combat “sextortion” through new features that blur explicit images in direct messages and notify users about interactions with scammers as evidence that big tech companies can protect consumer data when they choose. 28

In March 2024, the nonprofit criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) for vetoing a bill that would have prohibited social media use for all children under 16 and endorsing a new plan allowing parents to approve social media use for 14- and 15-year-olds. 29

TikTok Bid

Amid the US government’s intention to ban the Chinese social media app TikTok over data privacy concerns unless it was sold to a government-approved buyer, 30 Project Liberty urged the federal government to take the same approach to domestically made apps that allegedly weaponize consumer data. 31

Frank McCourt also announced Project Liberty’s bid to acquire TikTok, claiming it would give “individuals and creators on the platform the value and control they deserve regarding who has access to their data and how it is used.” 2

Partnerships

In September 2022, Project Liberty announced a partnership with Frances Haugen’s Beyond The Screen nonprofit 32 for a new initiative called “Duty of Care” aimed at holding social networking platforms accountable for harmful practices. 33

The nonprofit also established the Project Liberty Alliance, a coalition of organizations dedicated to protecting user data privacy. 34 Members include left-of-center organizations such as the American Journalism Project, Siegel Family Endowment, PolicyLink, Aspen Institute, and ParentsTogether Action. 35

In June 2023, Stanford University joined Project Liberty, Georgetown University and Sciences Po, a French university, 36 as a founding member of the Project Liberty Institute. 37

Project Liberty supported the launch of the Applied Social Media Lab (ASML), a program by the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University aimed at developing new social media technology with public control. 38

Grantmaking

In the fall of 2022, Project Liberty Institute partnered with Georgetown University to award $2 million to over ten professors at Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy for tech-related research. 39

Project Liberty also sponsored research on interventions to reduce misinformation and deepfakes, ways in which governments can learn digital governance, and strategies to promote the safe use of Artificial Intelligence. 40

The nonprofit donated $7,325,581 each to Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Cortico, a nonprofit affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 41 to support the development and integration of Cortico’s RealTalk system into Project Liberty’s DSNP, for promoting authentic dialogue and deeper connections online. 42

Common Sense Media, a left-of-center media and technology nonprofit received $425,000 from Project Liberty to advance its “Duty of Care” project. 42

According to its financial records, Project Liberty spent a total of $21,885,711 on grants for researchers in Europe, including Iceland and Greenland, in 2022. 42

In May 2023, Project Liberty was listed among five left-leaning organizations that donated over $22 million to Cortico to research and experiment with Project Liberty’s open-source network, DSNP. 43 The other donors who contributed to Cortico include the Quadrivium Foundation, the Knight Foundation, left-of-center political activist and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, and Yat Siu, a digital property rights advocate based in Hong Kong. 44

In 2024, Project Liberty partnered with Sciences Po to provide research grants to most of the university’s professors who focus on building, investing in, deploying, and regulating new technologies for the public good. 45

Financials

The financial records of Project Liberty indicate that in 2022, the nonprofit generated a revenue of $13.8 million and incurred expenses totaling $39,098,768. 42

References

  1. “Frank McCourt Individual Contributions.” FEC.gov. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Frank%2BMcCourt&two_year_transaction_period=2024&min_date=01%2F01%2F2000&max_date=12%2F31%2F2024.
  2. “Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty Seeks to Acquire TikTok.” Los Angeles Times, May 16, 2024. https://www.latimes.com/b2bpublishing/business-announcements/story/2024-05-16/frank-mccourts-project-liberty-seeks-to-acquire-tiktok.
  3. About Frank McCourt. McCourt Global, Inc. (2024b, May 15). https://www.mccourt.com/about/about-frank-mccourt/
  4. “About: Project Liberty.” About | Project Liberty. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.projectliberty.io/about.
  5. McCourt global. LinkedIn. (n.d.-d). https://www.linkedin.com/company/mccourt-global
  6. “About Us.” McCourt School of Public Policy, June 26, 2024. https://mccourt.georgetown.edu/about-us/#:~:text=Our%20Founding%20Donor,newest%20school%20at%20Georgetown%20University
  7. Tomicah Tillemann – McCourt global. LinkedIn. (n.d.-f). https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomicah/
  8. “Tomicah Tillemann.” New America. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.newamerica.org/our-people/tomicah-tillemann/.
  9. Boards: Project liberty. Boards | Project Liberty. (n.d.). https://www.projectliberty.io/boards
  10. Maria Cancian – Dean – Georgetown University McCourt … (n.d.-e). https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-cancian-688675b
  11. Angela Glover Blackwell – University of california, Berkeley … (n.d.-a). https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-glover-blackwell
  12. John DeGioia – President – georgetown university | linkedin. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnjdegioia/.
  13. “Eric Liu – Citizen University.” LinkedIn. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-liu-182655/.
  14. “Dan Porterfield – the Aspen Institute.” LinkedIn. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-porterfield/
  15. Boards: Project liberty. Boards | Project Liberty. (n.d.-a). https://www.projectliberty.io/boards
  16. “The next move of governance models” at Paris blockchain Week 2023. “The Next Move of Governance Models” at Paris Blockchain Week 2023 | Project Liberty. (n.d.). https://www.projectliberty.io/news/the-next-move-of-governance-models-at-paris-blockchain-week-2023
  17. Building our digital futures: A Project Liberty Collaborative. Building Our Digital Futures: A Project Liberty Collaborative | Project Liberty. (n.d.). https://www.projectliberty.io/news/building-our-digital-futures-a-project-liberty-collabrative
  18. Web3 & privacy. Web3 & Privacy | Project Liberty. (n.d.). https://www.projectliberty.io/news/web3-and-privacy
  19. “The next move of governance models” at Paris blockchain Week 2023. “The Next Move of Governance Models” at Paris Blockchain Week 2023 | Project Liberty. (n.d.-a). https://www.projectliberty.io/news/the-next-move-of-governance-models-at-paris-blockchain-week-2023
  20. Economic and social challenges in the Digital age. Economic and social challenges in the digital age | Project Liberty. (n.d.). https://www.projectliberty.io/news/economic-and-social-challenges-in-the-digital-age
  21. A conversation with Frank McCourt and Frances Haugen. A Conversation with Frank McCourt and Frances Haugen | Project Liberty. (n.d.). https://www.projectliberty.io/news/event-recap-in-conversation-with-frank-mccourt-and-frances-haugen
  22. Campaigns. Campaign | Project Liberty. (n.d.). https://www.projectliberty.io/campaign
  23. Kara Swisher & Frank McCourt discuss tech, democracy & the future of the internet. Kara Swisher & Frank McCourt Discuss Tech, Democracy & the Future of the Internet | Project Liberty. (n.d.). https://www.projectliberty.io/news/kara-swisher-and-frank-mccourt-discuss-tech-democracy-and-the-future-of-the-internet
  24. “Globally, People Expect AI to Increase Fake News and Information.” Insight report | Project Liberty. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.projectliberty.io/insight-report-ii.
  25. Project Liberty founder Frank McCourt speaks at web summit. Project Liberty Founder Frank McCourt speaks at Web Summit | Project Liberty. (n.d.). https://www.projectliberty.io/news/project-liberty-founder-frank-mccourt-speaks-at-web-summit
  26. “X.Com.” X (formerly Twitter). Accessed July 15, 2024. https://x.com/pro_jectliberty/status/1750595299792588871.
  27. “X.Com.” X (formerly Twitter). Accessed July 15, 2024. https://x.com/pro_jectliberty/status/1735451496991592850.
  28. “X.Com.” X (formerly Twitter). Accessed July 15, 2024. https://x.com/pro_jectliberty/status/1778811750399517135.
  29. “X.Com.” X (formerly Twitter). Accessed July 15, 2024. https://x.com/pro_jectliberty/status/1764727652542210284.
  30. Maheshwari, Sapna, and Amanda Holpuch. “Why the U.S. Is Forcing TikTok to Be Sold or Banned.” The New York Times, March 3, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/article/tiktok-ban.html#:~:text=Concerns%20that%20the%20Chinese%20government,to%20a%20government%2Dapproved%20buyer.
  31. “X.Com.” X (formerly Twitter). Accessed July 15, 2024. https://x.com/pro_jectliberty/status/1767225471077380414.
  32. “Beyond the Screen.” Every.org. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.every.org/beyondthescreen.
  33. Liberty, Project. “Project Liberty to Help Launch Frances Haugen’s ’ Initiative Aimed at Combating Social Media Harms.” PR Newswire: press release distribution, targeting, monitoring and marketing, September 22, 2022. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/project-liberty-to-help-launch-frances-haugens-duty-of-care-initiative-aimed-at-combating-social-media-harms-301631149.html.
  34. Alliance. Alliance | Project Liberty. (n.d.). https://www.projectliberty.io/alliance
  35. Everyone’s app Platform. Airtable. (n.d.). https://airtable.com/appY3s7V5NKgcoHaB/shrohaE0x1CzqNmLY/tblUcYAdDBzxRvrFr
  36. Home. Sciences Po. (n.d.). https://www.sciencespo.fr/en/
  37. Project Liberty Expands Global Alliance to Strengthen Democracy and Responsible Technology. Project Liberty Expands Global Alliance to Strengthen Democracy and Responsible Technology | Project Liberty. (n.d.). https://www.projectliberty.io/news/stanford-project-liberty-expands-global-alliance-to-strengthen-democracy-and-responsible-technology
  38. “Press Release.” Applied Social Media Lab at Harvard University, October 11, 2023. https://asml.cyber.harvard.edu/press-release-bkc-lab-launch/.
  39. Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy. “Georgetown and Project Liberty’s Institute Award $1.9 Million in Tech & Public Policy Grants.” PR Newswire: press release distribution, targeting, monitoring and marketing, June 6, 2023. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/georgetown-and-project-libertys-institute-award-1-9-million-in-tech–public-policy-grants-301844039.html.
  40. “Research.” Research | Project Liberty. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.projectliberty.io/accelerating-research.
  41. “Project Overview ’ Cortico: The Local Voices Network.” MIT Media Lab. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.media.mit.edu/projects/local-voices-network/overview/#:~:text=Cortico%2C%20a%20non%2Dprofit%20501,of%20a%20healthier%20public%20dialogue.
  42. “2022 Form 990 for Project Liberty.” 2022 Form 990 for Project Liberty | Cause IQ. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/view_990/873213298/8bfea52245f4f0f622489035a17c773b.
  43. “Project Liberty Collaborates with MIT Center for Constructive Communication and Cortico to Support Creation of Healthier Social Networks.” Project Liberty Collaborates with MIT Center for Constructive Communication and Cortico to Support Creation of Healthier Social Networks | Project Liberty. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.projectliberty.io/news/project-liberty-collaborates-with-mit-center-for-constructive-communication-and-cortico-to-support-creation-of-healthier-social-networks.
  44. “Yat Siu.” Expert Keynote and Motivational Speakers | Chartwell Speakers, February 7, 2023. https://www.chartwellspeakers.com/speaker/yat-siu/.
  45. “Project Liberty : 5 New Research Projects Selected in the Framework of the Partnership between Sciences Po and Project Liberty.” Research. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.sciencespo.fr/recherche/en/news/project-liberty-5-new-research-projects/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: May 1, 2022

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2021 Dec Form 990 $5,000,000 $4,700,000 $300,000 $0 N $5,000,000 $0 $0 $0

    Project Liberty


    New York, NY