Anika Collier Navaroli is a writer, lawyer, and researcher who made headlines in 2022 when she testified to the House Jan. 6 committee about Twitter’s role in the Capitol riots. She revealed that the company had allowed former President Donald Trump to spread false and rule-breaking tweets for years because they enjoyed having his influence on their platform. But how old is Anika Navaroli and what is her background? Here are some facts you need to know.
Early Life and Education
Anika Navaroli was born in 1988, making her 35 years old as of 2023. She grew up in Florida and attended the University of Florida, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2010. She then pursued a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 2012. She also obtained a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law in 2016, according to her website
Career and Achievements
Anika Navaroli has had a diverse and impressive career in the fields of technology, media, policy, and human rights. She has worked as a journalist, a lawyer, a researcher, and a policy expert for various organizations and institutions. Some of her notable roles include:
- Senior Fellow at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University, where she studies the impact of technology on journalism and democracy.
- Public Voices Fellow on Technology in the Public Interest with The OpEd Project, where she writes and publishes op-eds on topics such as online harassment, misinformation, and digital rights.
- Senior Expert on Twitter’s US Safety Policy team, where she was responsible for developing and enforcing policies on content moderation, hate speech, abuse, and misinformation.
- Researcher at Data & Society, where she explored the legal and policy implications of technology and First Amendment jurisprudence, the freelance journalism industry, and the intersection of intellectual property law.
- Legal Fellow at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, where she advocated for digital civil liberties and free expression online.
Whistleblower Testimony
Anika Navaroli made national news in July 2022 when she testified to the House Jan. 6 committee, which was investigating the causes and consequences of the violent attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters. She was the first former Twitter employee to speak publicly about the company’s handling of Trump’s account, which was permanently suspended after the riots.
In her testimony, Navaroli said that Twitter had failed to curb Trump’s tweets that violated their rules and incited violence, because they knew that he was their “favorite and most-used” user and that they “enjoyed having that sort of power”. She also said that Twitter’s executives were aware of the potential harm that Trump’s tweets could cause, but they chose to prioritize their profits and reputation over the public interest.
Navaroli said that she decided to come forward as a whistleblower because she felt a moral obligation to expose the truth and hold Twitter accountable for its actions. She said that she hoped that her testimony would help prevent future attacks on democracy and inspire other tech workers to speak up against unethical practices.
Personal Life and Interests
Anika Navaroli is married to Michael Navaroli, a software engineer and entrepreneur. They live in San Francisco, California, with their two dogs, according to her Instagram account. She is also an avid traveler, reader, and yoga enthusiast. She has visited more than 30 countries and has written about her experiences on her blog. She is also a fan of Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and Marvel movies, according to her Twitter profile.