Biometric technology has long been used for security and law enforcement purposes such as national security watch lists, passport controls, criminal fingerprint databases, and immigration processing. Now, however, the private sector increasingly uses these systems as a verification method for authentication that previously required a PIN or password. Apple’s decision to include a fingerprint scanner in the iPhone in 2013 brought new public awareness to possible non-law-enforcement applications of biometric technologies, and the company’s shift to facial recognition access in the most recent models further normalized the concept. Biometric technology continues to be adopted in many sectors, including financial services, transportation, health care, computer systems and facility access, and voting. In many cases, this technology is more efficient, less expensive, and easier to use than traditional alternatives, while also eliminating the need for passwords, which are broadly recognized as an insufficiently secure safeguard for user data. However, as with any digital system, there are privacy concerns around the collection, use, storage, sharing, and analysis of the data that are generated by these systems.
FPF in 2023: A Year in Review
As 2023 comes to an end, we want to reflect on a year that saw the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) continue to expand its presence globally and domestically while organizing engaging events, publishing thought-provoking analysis, providing the latest expert updates, and more. FPF continues to convene industry experts, academics, consumer advocates, and other experts […]
FPF Weighs In on the Responsible Use and Adoption of Artificial Intelligence Technologies in New York City Classrooms
Last week, Future of Privacy Forum provided testimony at a joint public oversight hearing before the New York City Council Committees on Technology and Education on “The Role of Artificial Intelligence, Emerging Technology, and Computer Instruction in New York City Public Schools.” Specifically, FPF urged the Council to consider the following recommendations for the responsible adoption […]
We’re On to Oregon: Sixth State Privacy Law of 2023 Creates New Consumer Rights and Protections
On June 22nd, lawmakers in Salem passed SB 619, the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act (“OCPA”). If enacted by Governor Kotek, Oregon will become the eleventh U.S. state (and sixth in 2023) to adopt broad-based data privacy legislation governing the collection, use, and transfer of consumer data. The bulk of OCPA’s requirements will take effect on […]
Race Equity, Surveillance in the Post-Roe Era, and Data Protection Frameworks in the Global South are Major Topics During This Year’s Privacy Papers for Policymakers Event
Author: Randy Cantz, U.S. Policy Intern, Ethics and Data in Research and former Communications Intern at FPF The Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) hosted a Capitol Hill event honoring 2022’s must-read privacy scholarship at the 13th annual Privacy Papers for Policymakers Awards ceremony. This year’s event featured an opening keynote by FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya […]
Knowledge is Power: The Future of Privacy Forum launches FPF Training Program
“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest”–Ben Franklin Let’s make 2023 the year we invest in ourselves, our teams, and the knowledge needed to best navigate this dynamic world of privacy and data protection. I am fortunate to know many of you who will read this blog post, but for those who I […]
This Year’s Must-Read Privacy Papers to be Honored at Capitol Hill Event
The Future of Privacy Forum’s 13th Annual Privacy Papers for Policymakers Award Recognizes Influential Privacy Research Today, the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) — a global non-profit focused on data protection headquartered in Washington, D.C. — announced the winners of its 13th annual Privacy Papers for Policymakers (PPPM) Awards. The PPPM Awards recognize leading privacy […]
FPF in 2022: A Year in Review
As 2022 comes to an end, we wanted to reflect on a year that saw the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) expand its presence both domestically and around the globe, while producing engaging events, thought-provoking analysis, and insightful publications. Global Expansion In 2022, FPF closely followed and advised upon significant developments in Asia, the European […]
Indonesia’s Personal Data Protection Bill: Overview, Key Takeaways, and Context
The authors thank Zacky Zainal Husein and Muhammad Iqsan Sirie from Rajah & Tann Indonesia for their insights. Overview On September 20, 2022, Indonesia’s House of Representatives passed the Personal Data Protection Bill (PDP Bill) (note: linked Bill is in Indonesian). This is the first step towards enactment of the PDP Bill as law. The […]
When is a Biometric No Longer a Biometric?
In October 2021, the White House Office of Science and Technology (OSTP) published a Request for Information (RFI) regarding uses, harms, and recommendations for biometric technologies. Over 130 entities responded to the RFI, including advocacy organizations, scientists, experts in healthcare, lawyers, and technology companies. While most commenters agreed on core concepts of biometric technologies used […]
BCI Technical and Policy Recommendations to Mitigate Privacy Risks
This is the final post of a four-part series on Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), providing an overview of the technology, use cases, privacy risks, and proposed recommendations for promoting privacy and mitigating risks associated with BCIs. Click here for FPF and IBM’s full report: Privacy and the Connected Mind. In case you missed them, read the […]