Transcription factor specifically required to repress long interspersed nuclear element 1 (L1) retrotransposons: recognizes and binds L1 sequences and repress their expression by recruiting a repressive complex containing TRIM28/KAP1 (PubMed:25274305). Not able to repress expression of all subtypes of L1 elements. Binds to the 5' end of L1PA4, L1PA5 and L1PA6 subtypes, and some L1PA3 subtypes. Does not bind to L1PA7 or older subtypes nor at the most recently evolved L1PA2 and L1Hs. 50% of L1PA3 elements have lost the ZNF93-binding site, explaining why ZNF93 is not able to repress their expression (PubMed:25274305). Expressed early during embryonic development. ZNF93 is only present in primates and evolved to repress the primate L1 lineage until 12.5 million years. Evolution stopped when the L1PA3-subfamily of retrotransposons, that escape repression by ZNF93 through the removal of the ZNF93-binding site, appeared (PubMed:25274305). Confers resistance to ET-743 (trabectedin, Yondelis) and PM00104 (Zalypsis), 2 marine derived compounds with antitumor activity in cancer cell lines. Belongs to the krueppel C2H2-type zinc-finger protein family.