About Clinton Fein

Clinton Fein has made significant contributions in various fields throughout his career. He is currently a technology consultant and motivational speaker, spending time between Johannesburg, South Africa and Palm Springs, California.

Fein’s journey began in 1986 when he co-founded Positive Systems, Inc., a New York-based recruitment agency focused on applying Artificial Intelligence to the financial and insurance industries. Fein played a crucial role in serving prestigious clients such as Equitable Life Insurance, Salomon Brothers, and Paine Webber.

Venturing into the entertainment industry, Fein relocated to Los Angeles, where he served as assistant to the President of Orion Pictures and as part of the creative team. Orion’s films included Academy Award-winning productions like “Dances With Wolves” and “The Silence of the Lambs.”

In 1994, Fein co-founded ApolloMedia, which gained recognition for releasing “Conduct Unbecoming,” a CD-ROM exploring the issue of gays in the military based on the book by renowned investigative reporter Randy Shilts. Conduct Unbecoming was the first-ever CD-ROM to face First Amendment violations and win a victory over the United States Navy. The company pioneered digital activism through its groundbreaking e-post feature, allowing users to communicate electronically with their elected representatives for the first time. The project received critical acclaim, winning the prestigious Critics Choice Award and being hailed as “evolutionary” by Rolling Stone Magazine.

Passionate about First Amendment rights, Fein joined forces with legal experts to challenge the constitutionality of the Communications Decency Act (CDA) through a lawsuit filed against Janet Reno, the former Attorney General of the United States. This legal action coincided with the launch of Annoy.com, an impactful website created by ApolloMedia that garnered global attention for its unapologetic and hard-hitting approach to political and social issues. Annoy.com enabled visitors to engage in unfiltered and unmediated threaded discussions on a wide range of topics, sparking reactions worldwide.

Although ApolloMedia successfully established the constitutional protection for “indecent” communications intended to “annoy” someone over the Internet, the lawsuit did not strike down the provision as unconstitutional. The company appealed to the United States Supreme Court, ultimately receiving a summary affirmation in April 1999.

Fein actively engages in extracurricular and social activities besides his professional endeavors. He served as President of the Board of The First Amendment Project (FAP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to safeguarding and promoting freedom of information, expression, and petition. Fein’s contributions extended to serving on the boards of organizations such as the San Francisco Partnership’s Multimedia Task Force, and the Information Technology Coalition (ITC).

Fein’s valuable insights and criticisms of government attempts to regulate speech on the Internet have been featured in prominent publications, including the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. His work and expertise are widely recognized and covered by major news organizations, solidifying his reputation as a noteworthy figure in the field.

Fein launched his art career in 2002, postponing his debut in the wake of the attacks on September 11, 2001, with a solo exhibition at San Francisco-based Toomey Tourell Gallery titled “Annoy.com” based on the images from the website and on the advice of renowned sculptor Lynda Benglis, who coined it “Press Art.”

Additional solo exhibitions followed, notably WARning at Axis Gallery in Chelsea, Manhattan, and Numb and Number at Toomey Tourell. Controversy ensued when a printing company in Silicon Valley deliberately destroyed two of the pieces prior to the opening in San Francisco. During this time Fein’s work was featured in books, including The Art of Engagement by Peter Selz and American Protest Literature by Zoe Trodd, released by Harvard University Press.

Fein’s groundbreaking 2008 exhibition, aptly titled Torture, ignited a fervent debate within the art world and captivated the attention of esteemed publications such as Art in America magazine. Fein’s audacious exploration of the deeply unsettling topic of torture elicited strong reactions from viewers, with some applauding his boldness while others found themselves uncomfortable and provoked.

Renowned art critic Peter Selz, formerly a leading curator at the Museum of Modern Art and founding director of the University Art Museum, Berkeley, lent his expertise to the discourse surrounding the exhibition. Fein’s thought-provoking and controversial work also caught the attention of prestigious educational institutions, including Harvard University, which recognized its socio-political relevance and ability to provoke crucial conversations about human rights, morality, and the boundaries of artistic expression. In its wake, Fein’s “Torture” exhibition left an indelible mark on the art world, challenging conventional notions and inciting dialogue that reverberated far beyond the gallery walls.

In 2022, Fein teamed with Bryan Schimmel to launch Re:Bullying, a presentation and workshop series focused on bullying at schools and in the workplace.

His first book, Nothing in Moderation, is scheduled for release in 2023.

Fein graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa in 1986, obtaining a BA in Industrial Psychology.