Future of Privacy Forum

June 12, 2018 | Stacey Gray

In the world of consumer privacy, including the Internet of Things (IoT), mobile data, and advertising technologies (“Ad Tech”), it can often be difficult to measure real-world impact and conceptualize individual harms and benefits. Fortunately, academic researchers are increasingly focusing on these issues, leading to impressive scholarship from institutions such as the Princeton Center for Information Technology Policy (CITP), Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science, UC Berkeley School of Information, and many others, including non-profits and think tanks.

February 7, 2018 | Stacey Gray

Today, Consumer Reports released their initial findings on the privacy and security aspects of Smart TVs. Applying their Digital Standard (developed with Ranking Digital Rights and other partner organizations), Consumer Reports identified a range of important privacy aspects and potential security vulnerabilities in Smart TVs from five leading manufacturers (Sony, Samsung, LG, TCL, and Vizio).

February 1, 2018 | Stacey Gray

CES 2018 brought to light many exciting advancements in consumer technologies. Without a doubt, Smart TVs, Smart Homes, and voice assistants were dominant: LG has a TV that rolls up like a poster; Philips introduced a Google Assistant-enabled TV is designed for the kitchen; and Samsung revealed its new line of refrigerators, TVs, and other home devices powered by Bixby, their intelligent voice assistant.

November 15, 2017 | Melanie E. Bates

“What data is being transmitted and what data is being used really depends on the device,” Verdi said. “They can offload that information from the device to servers on the internet that are either controlled by the companies or third parties and there’s some processing that can happen there.”

August 10, 2017 | Stacey Gray

Today, FPF released a new Infographic: Microphones & the Internet of Things: Understanding Uses of Audio Sensors in Connected Devices (read the Press Release here). From Amazon Echos to Smart TVs, we are seeing more home devices integrate microphones, often to provide a voice user interface powered by cloud-based speech recognition.

August 10, 2017 | Melanie E. Bates

Washington, DC – Today, the Future of Privacy Forum released an infographic, “Microphones & the Internet of Things: Understanding Uses of Audio Sensors in Connected Devices.” In order to enable the benefits of new voice-based services while protecting data privacy, this infographic attempts to explain the range of possible uses of microphones in connected devices.

May 1, 2017 | Melanie E. Bates

FPF held the Second Annual Tech Lab Open House Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at our offices in Washington, D.C. The Tech Lab Open House provided an opportunity for us to host FPF members and colleagues based in the District of Columbia, and those from around the world who were in town for the International Association of Privacy Professional’s Global Privacy Summit.

February 10, 2017 | Melanie E. Bates

FPF is pleased to welcome Henry Claypool as a senior fellow. Henry is currently Policy Director at the Community Living Policy Center at the University of California, San Francisco. He is the former Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Disability and a founding Principal Deputy Administrator of the Administration for Community Living.

January 30, 2017 | Melanie E. Bates

On January 26, 2017, Jules Polonetsky, FPF’s CEO, joined the National Cyber Security Alliance and other FPF members and friends at Twitter headquarters for its Data Privacy Day Event 2017. The event featured livedstreamed panels, TED-style talks, and interviews focusing on the latest privacy issues for consumers and business.