The U.S. State Department has announced the launch of an innovative program to promote digital freedom in the age of artificial intelligence. The Freedom Tech Excellence Program (FTEP) represents an unprecedented partnership between the U.S. government, leading technology companies, civil society, and think tanks.
The announcement was made on July 24, 2026. It was presented by Sarah Rogers, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy. This took place in the context of the prestigious Digital NEXT: Protecting Digital Liberties in the AI Era delegation, which Rogers convened in San Francisco.
The delegation comprised 47 representatives from governments focused on technology policy and digital affairs specialists from 30 countries. The meetings discussed ways to protect digital freedoms in the context of artificial intelligence development, with a particular emphasis on alternatives to rigid state regulation, which often restricts privacy and the right to freedom of expression.
The culmination of the program was a closed-door discussion organized by the Silicon Valley Office of Protocol, where Rogers held a dialogue with Elon Musk, Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson, and Tim Hwang of the Foundation for American Innovation. During the discussion, Rogers emphasized the need to protect children online while preserving innovative potential and freedom of expression.
FTEP operates on a fellowship model: employees from private companies are seconded to the State Department for a limited term to work on key challenges of the digital age. They will focus on four areas: protecting freedom of expression online, developing privacy-enhancing technologies, responsible AI governance, and countering digital surveillance.
Four organizations have announced their participation as program founders: Palantir Technologies (an analytics company), Anduril Industries (defense technology), Bitcoin Policy Institute (a cryptocurrency policy organization), and Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (a human rights advocacy foundation). Additional partners are expected to join in the coming months.
The initiative reflects a strategic shift in the U.S. approach to digital sovereignty. Companies gain the opportunity for direct influence on shaping international policy, while the State Department gains access to cutting-edge technologies and industry expertise. The program is positioned as an alternative to more rigid regulatory models, which, according to its proponents, stifle innovation and threaten user rights.
On the horizon is the Freedom Tech DC summit, scheduled for September 22-23, 2026, which will serve as a public platform for discussing the ideas developed within the FTEP framework.
