Student Defense Vice President and Chief Counsel Dan Zibel Participates in Congressional Briefing on AI

Student Defense Chief Counsel Dan Zibel spoke at a Congressional briefing in July 2025 that explored how AI is reshaping how young people learn about civil engagement.

The larger conversation was centered around forward-looking research, potential policy ideas and a better understanding of how AI is impacting academics, civic identity and literacy. The briefing was an opportunity for lawmakers and staff members to hear directly from young leaders and experts about what’s already happening in classrooms and communities, and to help them engage in ongoing efforts to shape AI and education policy.

Zibel shared insights on how student protections should be considered when AI is being used to flag behavior, assess work and track engagement. He also weighed in on where students are currently vulnerable with AI, and the safeguards policymakers should be paying attention to as they navigate how to monitor AI in education.

Zibel was joined by Saanvi Arora from the “Youth Power Project,” Nick Plante from “Design It For Us,” and Paul Lekas from the “Software Information & Industry Association.”

The briefing, called “Schools Versus Screens: AI, Education, And the Future of Civic Life,” was hosted in partnership with the Youth Power Project (YPP), Stanford’s Deliberative Democracy Lab, Design it For Us, and the News Literacy Project.