As artificial intelligence shifts from a feature to an infrastructure layer, one long-running internet reform effort is reshaping itself for what comes next. Project Liberty, the initiative founded by civic entrepreneur Frank McCourt, has announced a slate of leadership appointments and organizational changes aimed at accelerating its core mission: building a digital ecosystem where individuals—not platforms—control their data.
The timing is deliberate. As agentic AI systems increasingly act on behalf of users, platforms, and institutions, Project Liberty sees a narrowing window to reset who holds power online. Its latest moves signal a transition from advocacy-first to execution at scale, with new leadership focused on turning principles into deployable technology.
From “Move Fast” to Deliberate Design
Project Liberty was founded more than six years ago as a counterweight to what McCourt describes as Big Tech’s “move fast and break things” ethos. The organization’s central premise—that reclaiming personhood in the digital age is one of the defining challenges of our time—has only grown more urgent as AI systems ingest, infer, and act on personal data at unprecedented scale.
“As agentic AI permeates every aspect of digital life, these updates strengthen Project Liberty’s ability to innovate and rapidly deploy solutions,” McCourt said, emphasizing security, autonomy, and adaptability as non-negotiable design principles.
That framing places Project Liberty at odds with dominant platform models built on behavioral data extraction. Instead of optimizing engagement or ad yield, the organization is focused on data agency—giving individuals meaningful control over how their information is stored, shared, and used by AI-driven systems.
Introducing Project Liberty Labs: From Ideals to Infrastructure
The most significant structural change is the formal launch of Project Liberty Labs, a dedicated technology development organization tasked with building consumer-facing and enterprise-ready tools that embody Project Liberty’s values.
Joe Riley has been appointed CEO of Project Liberty Labs, moving from his previous role as Interim CEO. Riley brings operational continuity to the role, as he will also remain CFO and COO of McCourt Global, the family office that launched Project Liberty in 2019.
The creation of Labs marks a clear pivot. While Project Liberty has long been influential in policy, research, and ecosystem-building, Labs is designed to answer a tougher question: What does data autonomy look like in products people actually use?
In an AI market crowded with promises of personalization and productivity, Project Liberty Labs is positioning itself as a values-driven builder, translating abstract governance principles into usable software.
Scaling Technology Leadership for an AI-Native Internet
To support that ambition, Braxton Woodham has been named President of Project Liberty Labs. Woodham is best known as a co-creator of Frequency, a decentralized, open-source digital infrastructure layer, and the Decentralized Social Networking Protocol (DSNP).
His mandate is broad: define product vision, guide engineering strategy, and scale the Labs organization alongside CTO Harry Evans. In practical terms, that means moving from experimental deployments to production-ready systems capable of supporting millions—or tens of millions—of users.
This matters because agentic AI doesn’t just consume data; it acts on it. Without new infrastructure, today’s AI agents risk reinforcing existing platform dependencies rather than empowering individuals. Frequency and DSNP are designed to flip that model, separating social identity and data from centralized platforms.
Strengthening the Institute: Policy, Research, and Governance
While Labs focuses on building, the Project Liberty Institute (PLI) remains the organization’s intellectual and policy backbone. Structured as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, PLI handles academic partnerships, governance frameworks, and philanthropic initiatives.
Tomicah Tillemann has been appointed President of PLI, bringing a policy-forward lens to the role. His focus will include digital governance models and global research collaborations, areas where AI regulation is rapidly evolving but still fragmented.
At the same time, Jeb Bell has been promoted to Executive Director of PLI, taking responsibility for daily operations, staff management, and academic partnerships. Bell will also continue leading international policy efforts tied to open-source initiatives like DSNP.
This dual leadership structure reflects a reality many AI governance groups face: research alone isn’t enough. Ideas must be operationalized, communicated, and aligned with real-world policy timelines.
Expanding the Alliance: A Coalition, Not a Platform
The Project Liberty Alliance—a global network of more than 175 values-aligned organizations—is another pillar of the strategy. Members span technology companies, policy organizations, educational institutions, and impact-focused initiatives.
Lara Galinsky has been promoted to Executive Director of the Alliance, where she will oversee ecosystem growth, member engagement, and movement-building alongside Tillemann.
Unlike traditional industry consortia, the Alliance is less about standard-setting and more about shared direction. Its members are unified by a belief that digital infrastructure—and now AI—should be designed to serve people, not exploit them.
As AI becomes embedded across sectors, coalition-building may prove as important as code. No single organization can reset digital norms alone, especially when competing with trillion-dollar incumbents.
Momentum Heading Into 2026
Project Liberty’s reorganization builds on tangible momentum from 2025. Notable milestones include:
- More than 16 million users secured on Frequency, signaling real-world traction for decentralized infrastructure
- The successful passage of Utah’s Digital Choice Act, a rare example of state-level legislation aimed at increasing digital competition and user control
- PLI’s contributions to The Digitalist Papers, Volume 2, produced in collaboration with Stanford, which explored the future of digital governance
These achievements suggest Project Liberty is moving beyond thought leadership into measurable impact—a critical credibility boost as it pushes into commercial AI products.
Why Agentic AI Raises the Stakes
Agentic AI systems—capable of acting autonomously on user intent—represent a turning point for digital power dynamics. If controlled by centralized platforms, they risk deepening asymmetries between users and corporations. If designed with user agency at the core, they could do the opposite.
Project Liberty is betting on the latter outcome, but the path is narrow. Building agentic AI that respects data sovereignty requires:
- Transparent data models
- Open protocols
- Interoperable identity systems
- Clear governance mechanisms
Most mainstream AI products today optimize for speed and scale, not restraint. Project Liberty’s approach is slower, more deliberate—and arguably harder to monetize quickly.
A Contrarian Strategy in an AI Gold Rush
In an era defined by rapid AI commercialization, Project Liberty’s reorganization stands out for what it doesn’t prioritize: growth at any cost. Instead, the group is aligning leadership around long-term infrastructure change, even if that means swimming against prevailing incentives.
For enterprises, policymakers, and technologists uneasy about the direction of AI-driven platforms, Project Liberty offers an alternative vision—one where innovation and accountability are not mutually exclusive.
Whether that vision can compete with entrenched platform economics remains an open question. But with agentic AI accelerating, the organization’s leadership changes suggest it intends to find out—quickly.
Looking Ahead
Over the next year, Project Liberty plans to:
- Launch new commercial AI products rooted in data autonomy
- Deepen technology policy advocacy across jurisdictions
- Expand global engagement with experts, institutions, and communities
The restructuring makes one thing clear: Project Liberty is no longer just arguing for a better internet. It’s building one—before AI decides the future on everyone else’s behalf.
Power Tomorrow’s Intelligence — Build It with TechEdgeAI
