Mackenzie Austin
Tech Counsel
Mackenzie Austin is an experienced litigator whose work at Protect Democracy focuses on artificial intelligence, democracy, and the rule of law. She has particular expertise in First Amendment questions raised by AI, which she has explored through research, writing, and legal advising. Before joining Protect Democracy, Mackenzie worked in private practice, focusing on Supreme Court and appellate litigation involving administrative, antitrust, and constitutional law. She has also served as a fellow at both the Starling Lab for Data Integrity and Stanford’s Global Digital Policy Incubator, working on emerging technology policy and governance. Mackenzie clerked for the Honorable Kevin C. Newsom of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. She is a graduate of Stanford Law School and the University of Virginia, where she was a Jefferson Scholar.
