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Cybersecurity, Privacy, Web3, Open Source

Sean O’Brien is a subject-matter expert in cybersecurity, privacy, Web3, and Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). He is a former Lecturer in Cybersecurity at Yale Law School and currently teaches classes on Web3 and Blockchain at Yale as well as Hacking and Cybersecurity at Lawfare. Sean is a Visiting Fellow at the Information Society Project, where he founded and leads the Privacy Lab initiative. He is Open Source Lead at Tari Labs & Yat Labs, was the founding Head Tutor at Oxford University Cyber Security for Business Leaders, and is Security Advisor for Panquake. Sean’s research and expertise has appeared in The New York Times, Forbes, Bloomberg, Popular Science, AP News, NBC News, The Financial Times, WIRED, and The New Yorker.

Featured Projects

Cybersecurity (LAW 21314)

cyberlab.yale.edu

Development of unique, hands-on curriculum for Yale Law School. Kali Linux pentesting, Raspberry Pis, and more.

Panquake - Talk Liberation

panquake.com

Powerful, next generation messaging technology on a custom blockchain with no advertising or manipulation.

Yale Privacy Lab

privacylab.yale.edu

Founder of this initiative of the Information Society Project. Forensic analysis of mobile apps, with press in 100+ outlets.

years in higher education

100 +

Hands-on Tech Workshops

Years In Open Source (FOSS)

Years Building on the Web

Joshua Gay, IEEE Open Source Community Manager

★★★★★ 5/5

“Sean has distinguished himself as a leader within the Free Software community. He is capable of communicating about the Free Software movement and information technology because he is immersed in it. I have gained a deep appreciation for Sean’s knowledge in his roles as a developer, activist, and educator, as well as his ability to understand and think critically at many different levels and to communicate about difficult issues to people with diverse backgrounds.”

Digital Self-Defense Training

I show people how to be safe and aware while traversing the digital landscape. Learners must approach privacy and cybersecurity step-by-step, integrating strategies rather than relying on catch-all solutions.

Cyber Attack Demos

I want people to see cyber attacks first-hand so they can guard against them. My demonstrations contain safe, simplified examples of real-world attacks that are designed for audience interaction.

Ban Face Surveillance!

Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) is a serious threat to privacy, autonomy, and freedom of expression. I am passionately opposed to Face Surveillance via FRT and am pursuing bans at Yale University and for the City of New Haven, Connecticut.

Press Coverage – Yale Daily News | The Guardian | FFTF Blog | New Haven Indy | ExpressVPN
Letter to Yale President Peter Salovey, March 2, 2020 (PDF)
Draft New Haven Face Surveillance Ban (Office Doc)
Draft New Haven Face Surveillance Ban (PDF)
All legislative documents are licensed CC0 / released into the Public Domain.