Research often requires using sensitive data to answer important questions. The ethical collection and analysis of personal information can be challenging to do while still protecting the privacy of the implicated individuals, honoring informed consent, and complying with other legal obligations. The technology, policies, and ethical considerations for researchers are constantly shifting, sometimes making it difficult to keep up. That’s why FPF engages stakeholders across academia and industry to produce recommendations, best practices, and ethical review structures that promote responsible research. Our work is centered around streamlining, encouraging, and promoting responsible research that respects essential privacy and ethical considerations throughout the research lifecycle. FPF works with policymakers to develop legislative protections that support effective, responsible research with strong privacy safeguards, including hosting events that allow policymakers and regulators to engage directly with practitioners from academia, advocacy, and industry.
Spotlight on PPPM Judges
This week, the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) will announce the winners of the 2016-17 Privacy Papers for Policymakers Award. Each year, FPF awards the Privacy Papers for Policymakers Award to the authors of leading privacy research and analytical work that is relevant to policymakers in the United States Congress, at U.S. federal agencies, and for data protection authorities abroad.
Georgetown – FPF: Valuable Partnership and Talent Channel
Each of the last three years, FPF has taken a top Georgetown student and immersed them in the world of privacy. FPF fellows collaborate with advocates, academics, and companies and handle projects that lead to best practices, white papers, codes of conduct, and the like.
FPF Commends New America's Report on Predictive Analytics in Higher Education
New America released a report today that addresses the use of data in higher ed analytics – predicting student outcomes and managing university academic programs based on prior data. The growing ability to gather and analyze this data allows colleges to intervene with students struggle, put in place mentoring programs, create support structures addressing “whole student” welfare, ultimately improving academic outcomes and graduation rates.
Future of Privacy Forum and Carnegie Mellon University Research Leads to New Tool from California Attorney General
Last week, California’s Attorney General, Kamala D. Harris, (‘Attorney General Harris’) announced the release of a new form that allows consumers to report potential violations of the California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA) by websites and online services.
A National Challenge: Advancing Privacy While Preserving the Utility of Data
Addressing “privacy” increasingly involves discussions of ethics, philosophy, and psychology along with law, economics, and technology. Finding an approach to future privacy concerns that supports the benefits of technology without compromising individual rights is an increasingly complex challenge.
Jules Polonetsky Featured on Modern Workplace
On October 11, 2016, FPF’s CEO, Jules Polonetsky, was featured on Modern Workplace for “The Privacy Balance: Staying secure and ethical with your data.” The webinar focused on how to navigate common blind spots in data security and avoid privacy pitfalls. Jules discussed tips for creating an organization that is profitable and ethical.
Future of Privacy Forum Awarded National Science Foundation Grant to Support Industry-Academic Collaboration on National Privacy Research Priorities
The Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) has received a $300,000, two-year grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a Privacy Research and Data Responsibility Research Coordination Network (RCN). The RCN will produce a community of academic researchers and industry practitioners to support industry-academic cooperation to address research priorities identified in the Administration’s recently released National Privacy Research Strategy (NPRS).
Future of Privacy Forum Releases Best Practices for Consumer Wearables and Wellness Apps and Devices
Washington, DC – Today, the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) released Best Practices for Consumer Wearables and Wellness Apps and Devices, a detailed set of guidelines that responsible companies can follow to ensure they provide practical privacy protections for consumer-generated health and wellness data. The document was produced with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and incorporates input from a wide range of stakeholders including companies, advocates, and regulators.
Examining the Privacy Implications of Smart TVs
The Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) filed its report, Always On: Privacy Implications of Microphone-Enabled Devices, with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in response to the Commission’s request for public comments regarding the privacy implications of Smart TVs. On December 7, 2016, the FTC will be holding a Smart TV Workshop to explore the intricacies of tracking technologies and best practices for addressing consumer privacy on entertainment systems.
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.