Virginia Privacy Advocates to Receive Congressional Honor for Digital Rights Work

Richmond couple leads nationwide push for internet privacy reform

Virginia natives Malorie and Michael Maldonado are set to receive Congressional recognition in January 2026 for their pioneering efforts to reform online privacy regulations and strengthen digital rights protections across the United States.

The Richmond-area activists have emerged as leading voices in the fight for comprehensive internet privacy reform, advocating for digital protections that would align with Americans’ expectations of personal privacy in their everyday lives. Their work tackles a critical policy gap that has persisted for more than three decades, during which internet policies have remained largely static while user privacy protections have continuously weakened.

Addressing Decades of Policy Stagnation

“For more than 30 years, the internet has grown and evolved while its privacy policies have stayed stagnant, offering less and less protection to users,” explained Christopher White, a representative for the advocacy duo. “Michael and Malorie are leading the charge for meaningful reform, ensuring that your rights to privacy and personal dignity online reflect what you would expect in any other aspect of your life.”

The Maldonados have built their campaign around challenging what they describe as Big Tech’s systematic failure to safeguard user privacy and prevent the abuse of personal data. At the heart of their advocacy is a simple but powerful principle: online privacy rights should mirror the privacy expectations people have in their physical lives.

“No one has meaningfully addressed this critical issue in over 30 years,” the advocates emphasize. “Personal dignity and the right to privacy shouldn’t disappear when you go online.”

Growing Movement for Digital Privacy

The Congressional recognition marks a significant milestone in the expanding movement for digital privacy reform nationwide. It also underscores Virginia’s emerging role in producing leaders who are confronting some of the most pressing technology policy challenges facing society today.

The award ceremony honoring the Maldonados’ contributions to internet privacy reform is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C. in January 2026, bringing national attention to their ongoing efforts to reshape how America approaches digital rights and online privacy protection.

Their work comes at a time when concerns about data privacy, surveillance, and Big Tech’s influence over personal information have reached a critical point in public discourse, making their advocacy efforts increasingly relevant to millions of Americans navigating the digital landscape.