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John Verdi, our Vice President of Policy, speaks with Angelique Carson of the International Association of Privacy Professionals about his previous work with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and his new role with the Future of Privacy Forum.
In the News
Protecting privacy and promoting inclusion with the ‘Internet of Things’
To technologists and innovators, the “Internet of Things” (IoT) represents a world of exciting new benefits that will solve important technical and social problems. To critics, IoT represents a world of pervasive surveillance, with toys that spy on kids and microphone-enabled devices recording and retaining our most personal data.
W&L Law Review Publishes First-ever Disclosure of Facebook Internal Review Process
The Facebook study was the product of a symposium sponsored by W&L Law and theFuture of Privacy Forum (FPF), a DC-based think tank that promotes responsible data privacy policies. The topic of the symposium, as the Facebook paper suggests, was ethical review processes for big data research, with an emphasis on the ethical challenges of internal corporate research by companies that are able to harvest massive amounts of digital data. The event was also supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the National Science Foundation.
The FAA released rules for the operation of commercial drones
“Drones will bring a wide range of benefits, but for widespread acceptance, it will be essential for the public to feel comfortable that personal data collected by drone operators will be used responsibly. The drone privacy best practices provide guideposts that will help major companies and small operators alike demonstrate that they handle data in a trustworthy manner.”
Student data privacy: Moving from fear to responsible use
Data has always been an inherent part of the educational process – a child’s age, correlated with her grade level, tracked to specific reading or math skills that align with that grade, measured by grades and tests which rank her according to her peers. Today this data is ever more critical.
Scientists Are Just as Confused About the Ethics of Big-Data Research as You
“The IRB may make very different decisions based on who is on the board, what university it is, and what they’re feeling that day,” says Kelsey Finch, policy counsel at the Future of Privacy Forum. There are hundreds of these IRBs in the US—and they’re grappling with research ethics in the digital age largely on their own.
Study: Mobile ad block use up, but fewer users turning limit ad tracking on
According to Jules Polonetsky, CEO of the Future of Privacy Forum, the limit ad tracking feature hasn’t been heavily surveyed. So while Koestier’s comment might be comforting for marketers, this means it’s possible that most mobile users are simply unaware the feature exists.
GAO Report – Information and Issues Regarding Surreptitious Tracking Apps
Responding to a request by the Senate Judiciary Committee, a new GAO report analyzes the role of smartphone tracking apps in facilitating stalking, and the potential responses the federal government may take against their developers.
Learning from Student Data
Just as adults’ personal lives and data increasingly inhabiting online spaces, so are students. While this shift brings many benefits and the possibility of learning tailored to individual students’ needs, it is also brings new challenges.
Should Colleges Report When They Get Government Data Requests?
Last year, the University of California, Berkeley, announced that it was publishing a transparency report detailing government requests for data, similar to what tech companies including Google and Facebook have been doing for years.