Connected technologies and always-on data flows are helping make today’s cities and communities more livable, productive, and sustainable. At the same time, these technologies raise concerns about individual privacy, freedom of choice, and institutional discrimination. How do we leverage the benefits of a data-rich society while giving members of our community the confidence of knowing their privacy is protected? How can we address pressing local problems — from housing to highways, potholes to policing — and deliver public services in equitable, privacy-conscious ways?
Working collaboratively with public, private, academic, and civil society leaders, FPF builds tools and best practices to guide how cities and local communities collect, manage, and use personal data to improve services for individuals. A cornerstone of this work is FPF’s Civic Privacy Leaders Network, a peer network supported by the National Science Foundation that brings together privacy leaders from 30+ local governments across the U.S. and Canada to navigate emerging privacy issues, share practical guidance, and promote fair and transparent data practices.
Visit the Smart Communities Resources web page for a comprehensive list of FPF’s ongoing work in this area.
Featured
The Future of Privacy Forum and EY Examine Speech Recognition and Smart Devices in New Paper
Washington, DC – Today, the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF), in collaboration with Ernst & Young LLP, released Always On: Privacy Implications of Microphone-Enabled Devices, a new paper that explores how speech recognition technology fits into a broader scheme of “always listening” technologies. The paper identifies emerging practices by which manufacturers and developers can alleviate privacy concerns and build consumer trust in the ways that data is collected, stored, and analyzed.
Always on: Privacy Implications of Microphone-Enabled Devices
Is your smart TV listening to your conversations? Are your children’s toys spying on your family?
These questions are being raised as the next generation of Internet-connected devices enters the market. Such devices, often dubbed “always on,” include televisions, cars, toys and home personal assistants, many of which now include microphones and speech-recognition capabilities.
FPF Testifies at NHTSA Meeting on Autonomous Vehicles
Lauren Smith, FPF Policy Counsel, testified today at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) second public meeting on autonomous vehicles. The NHTSA is seeking input on planned guidelines for the safe deployment and operation of automated vehicles.
Google Provides Open Source Platform for Beacon Security
After an initial splash, news about beacon technology has been fairly quiet recently, but last week an advancement was announced that will support easier access to privacy and security capabilities on this unique technology. Beacons are sometimes misunderstood – thought to collect or retain data on nearby people, or able to track smartphone movements without […]
Chris Wolf Moderates Panel at CES 2016
Innovating Privacy: New Frameworks for Changing Technology Chris led the discussion by this excellent panel at this year’s CES. Full panel discussion can be viewed here(link expired). Consumers are enjoying the benefits of connected devices while navigating (grappling with!) new privacy issues. Industry and regulators alike are working to understand consumer preferences while preserving creativity […]
In-Store Location Tracking: A Holiday Guide
In these final remaining days before Christmas, last-minute holiday shopping is in full swing. The window for online delivery is closing, and more shoppers this week will be doing their holiday shopping the old-fashioned way—in the store.
Cross-Device: Understanding the State of State Management
On Friday, October 16, the Future of Privacy Forum filed comments with the FTC in advance of the FTC’s Cross Device Workshop on Nov. 16, 2015. Jules Polonetsky and Stacey Gray have prepared a report, Cross-Device: Understanding the State of State Management, based on revisions to FPF’s comments filed with the FTC on October 16th, that aims to describe […]
User Reputation: Building Trust and Addressing Privacy Issues in the Sharing Economy
Ahead of the Federal Trade Commission’s June 9 workshop on the sharing economy, “User Reputation: Building Trust and Addressing Privacy Issues in the Sharing Economy” by Joseph Jerome, Benedicte Dambrine, and Ben Ambrose discusses the reputational, trust and privacy challenges users and providers face concerning the management and accuracy of shared information.
Talking Cars and the Internet of Things at TRUSTe's IoT Privacy Summit
Future of Privacy Forum is excited to partner with TRUSTe to provide attendees with a full day of case studies, workshops and panels at the second IoT Privacy Summit on June 17th in Menlo …
NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission Proposal Raises Privacy Concerns for Apps
On Monday, the Future of Privacy Forum joined with the Bill of Rights Defense Committee/Defending Dissent Foundation, Center for Democracy & Technology, The Constitution Project, and Electronic Frontier Foundation to write the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) about its proposed rules regarding For-Hire Vehicle dispatch apps. We were especially concerned with the requirement that […]