FOSI Briefs the States: A Discussion on New York’s Approach to Kids Online Safety

Terry was trained as a scientist at UCLA before teaching at Harvard University and founding a recording studio focused on world-class vocal performances. He currently serves as Modulate’s COO, overseeing all day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives founded on a unique company culture of continuous improvement. Born and raised in Boston, he is deeply passionate about building ethical foundational safeguards into AI technology, and making the internet safer.

Shae Gardner is an LGBTQ+ advocate and technology policy expert with over a decade of experience in industry research and policy, working to ensure that the unique needs of her community are being considered and addressed in an increasingly digital world. At LGBT Tech, Shae is responsible for driving the organization's policy strategy and research efforts, telling the story of LGBTQ+ digital rights and addressing the complex challenges faced by the community in online spaces.

Shae came to LGBT Tech with roughly a decade of experience in technology research and policy, most recently as Executive Policy Analyst and previously Manager of Research, both at wireless trade association CTIA. Shae began working in technology policy while studying politics at the George Washington University, and has since led a number of industry efforts, from reporting on next-generation network rollouts, to managing a COVID-era connectivity initiative, to spearheading industry-first LGBTQIA+ reports and studies.

State Senator Andrew Gounardes represents New York’s 26th State Senate District, which includes the neighborhoods of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Sunset Park, Red Hook, Park Slope, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Heights, Vinegar Hill, and DUMBO. He was elected in November 2018.

Senator Gounardes is the Chair of the Committee on Budget and Revenue and a strong champion for working families across New York. He has written and passed key legislation to fight skyrocketing hospital costs, expand school zone speed cameras, and protect workers' rights. Since his first term in the State Senate in 2019, Senator Gounardes has worked tirelessly for a better New York that is fair, affordable, and gives everyone an opportunity to thrive.

Born and raised in Bay Ridge, Senator Gounardes graduated from Fort Hamilton High School and earned degrees from Hunter College and the George Washington University Law School. Senator Gounardes’ passion for public service began as an aide to former City Councilmember Vincent Gentile. He later served as Counsel to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams for five years and a trustee of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, one of the largest municipal pension funds in the country.

Guided by the principles of philoxenia, a Greek word meaning "love of strangers," he was active in the community long before being elected to office. Following Superstorm Sandy, Andrew co-founded Bay Ridge Cares, an organization that prepared 25,000 hot meals for victims after the storm. A community advocate, he worked with Riders Alliance and Bay Ridge Advocates for Keeping Everyone Safe (B.R.A.K.E.S.) to fight for better transportation and safer streets.

Senator Gounardes is also active on issues affecting the Greek community. He is a member of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, a network of Greek-American leaders from across the United States that promote civic involvement, human rights, and democratic values in and between the United States and Greece. He is a founding member of the St. Andrew’s Freedom Forum, an international initiative that raises awareness of the denial of human rights and religious liberties of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Eastern Orthodox Church and recognizes religious freedom defenders throughout the world.

Daniel Hales is a Policy Fellow with the Youth and Education Privacy Team. His work contributes to FPF’s ongoing projects relating to education technology, legal research, legislative analysis, and student & youth privacy.

Prior to joining FPF, Daniel worked as a privacy analyst at a leadership development and human resources consulting firm where he contributed to a cross-functional team tasked with operationalizing privacy practices across the organization. Before getting into the privacy industry, Daniel worked as a legislative aide for a representative in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Daniel earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond School of Law where he focused on Compliance, Privacy Law, and Technology Regulation. During his J.D. program, Daniel was awarded the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Information Privacy Law. Daniel earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Sandra Khalil is an Associate Director at All Tech Is Human, focusing on stakeholder engagement and amplifying impactful initiatives in the responsible technology ecosystem. She also manages the organization’s trust and safety programming.

Before joining the team, Sandra spent eight years in federal, municipal, and think tank roles fostering people-to-people connections and supporting globally underrepresented and marginalized communities; this includes posts at the United States Mission to the United Nations, Special Victims Bureau at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and Center on International Cooperation. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and Arabic and an M.S. in Global Security, Conflict, and Cyber, with a focus on emerging tech policy.

Marissa Edmund is the Policy Specialist at the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), working with the policy team to monitor emerging issues in tech policy and contribute her policy and research expertise to ensure the online world is safer for children and families.

Prior to joining FOSI, Marissa spent two years at the Center for American Progress as the Sr. Policy Analyst for Gun Violence Prevention focusing heavily on gender-based and domestic violence. Before that, Marissa was the Policy Coordinator at the National Network to End Domestic Violence where she was able to actualize her passion for family safety by conducting research, engaging membership, and educating lawmakers on ways to support survivors of domestic violence. Marissa holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC).

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