Hemanshu (Hemu) Nigam

During his tenure at Cyber Security Affairs, Hemu provided strategic guidance to both corporations and online companies in online safety, security, and privacy issues covering product, policy, PR, and regulatory matters. He effectively helped Internet- and non-Internet-based companies in creating and implementing holistic online safety, security, and privacy programs, including in social media, and provided guidance to safety, security, and privacy technology providers. Hemu has also led numerous product and program audits to identify key risk areas and drive execution of changes. When companies are under government inquiry or investigation at the federal and state levels, Hemu provides strategic and legal guidance in navigating such matters. He engages with the non-government organization (NGO) community to build partnership opportunities and provides crisis media management and proactive media outreach services and media training. Having been a federal prosecutor for computer crimes and online sex crimes, Hemu helps clients develop and implement law enforcement compliance programs and training. He also leads cyber security vulnerability assessments on behalf of clients.

Hemu also works with talent, pro athletes, and executives (principals) who require 24/7/365 cyber threat protection, to act as the eyes in cyberspace for security details on the ground, whether on the road or at home, to identify, prevent, or dismantle any threats brewing in the public, deep, or dark web, including social media. Hollywood stars and other high-profile individuals who have been cyberstalked, hacked, and threatened have sought out Hemu to help them, including with online reputational attacks and cyber privacy.

From 2006 to 2010, Hemu was chief security officer for a mass media and publishing company, where he was responsible for protecting the personal information of more than 200 million users around the world. He has been credited with making a social networking service safe and secure after launching an initiative to identify and remove criminals from the networking site. He also drove the launch of more than 150 other safety, security, and privacy protection features for the company and played a key role in an accord between the company and 49 state attorneys general to develop key principles of social networking safety.

From 2002 to 2006, Hemu worked for a multinational technology company, where he led a global initiative to build safety standards into products across the company. He also implemented a virus enforcement strategy and collaborated with the U.S. Secret Service, Interpol, and the FBI to develop the company's landmark anti-virus reward program. The program is credited with toppling one of the world's most notorious virus creators in 2005.

From 2000 to 2002, Hemu was vice president of worldwide Internet enforcement at a trade association that represents major film studios, where he spearheaded a global effort to combat online movie piracy for the major Hollywood studios. During his tenure, Hemu implemented anti-piracy technology that allowed the association to eliminate more than 100,000 illegal movie websites in a year.

From 1997 to 2000, Hemu held simultaneous roles in the federal government, serving as a federal prosecutor against child and computer crimes for the U.S. Department of Justice, advisor to a congressional commission on child safety, and advisor to the White House on cyberstalking. In addition to prosecuting Internet predators, Hemu was behind the prosecution of 17 foreign nationals engaged in the trafficking of women and children into the United States.

Hemu began his career as a deputy district attorney in Los Angeles County from 1990 to 1997, focusing on prosecuting sexual assault and child abuse cases. During his tenure, Hemu handled more than 1,000 criminal matters and was a recurring lecturer at rape crisis centers across Los Angeles.

Hemu has also been honored to work with Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet & Society and the state attorneys general to develop widely used online safety standards. He was appointed by the New York Office of the Attorney General as an independent safety and security examiner to provide periodic independent assessments of a major online company's safety and security practices. He has been asked by the White House and the United Nations to provide guidance and counsel on navigating the world's most critical online protection challenges.