Mason Pelt is a writer whose work explores the critical intersection of narrative, power, and digital surveillance. His published commentary has appeared in Business Insider, SiliconANGLE, and Splice Today, among others. His digital publishing has slowed as he is currently writing a book that examines authoritarian behavior across history and corporate life.
His unconventional journey to writing includes extensive experience in video and photo production, and work as a VFX artist on award-winning indie films, including Shelter. Across his varied career, the constants have been research and storytelling.
He currently serves on the Board of Project HAND UP, a public health-focused nonprofit where he advises on strategy and messaging to create educational content for children on challenging topics, including HIV/AIDS and parasitic diseases. This work directly leverages his expertise in communication to achieve measurable public health impact.
Pelt's advocacy is informed by over a decade in advertising and commercial production. He managed more than $100 million in paid media campaigns (including projects for the Super Bowl and the Olympics) and gained firsthand insight into how ad tech infrastructure shapes human behavior. This experience fueled his commitment to digital privacy and resistance to corporate and governmental surveillance.
His forthcoming book explores the management styles and behaviors of authoritarian figures, from historical dictators to modern corporate leaders, as well as the everyday “tyrants” who wield power in offices and institutions. Drawing on history, psychology, and contemporary culture, it seeks to give readers practical tools to recognize, understand, and navigate authoritarian behavior in all its forms.
