Across the United States, evolving data collection and processing practices and advances in artificial intelligence are driving new digital services, technologies, and socially beneficial research – while also raising new opportunities, risks, and questions for individuals and communities. In response, state and federal policymakers are considering new legislative and regulatory frameworks on three interconnected fronts: comprehensive consumer privacy laws that establish baseline rights and protections for personal data across the economy; frameworks that target specific sectors and practices such as automated decisionmaking, biometric identification, companion chatbots, data-driven pricing, data brokerage, frontier AI model safety, genetic data, and health data; and youth-specific privacy and online safety laws that set distinct rules for minors. These three tracks rarely stay in their lanes: a comprehensive privacy law may include AI provisions, an AI safety bill may carve out rules for minors, a youth online safety law may hinge on biometric age verification. Understanding the landscape requires understanding both the individual pieces and how they fit together.
FPF’s U.S. Legislation team provides expert, independent, pragmatic analysis of state and federal legislative and regulatory approaches to privacy, AI, and youth online safety – three distinct but increasingly intertwined issue areas. The team tracks emerging proposals, compares new laws against existing frameworks, analyzes implementation and compliance implications, and helps policymakers and stakeholders understand how legal requirements interact with current technologies, business practices, and data uses.
Through reports, blog posts, legislative and policy analyses, webinars, in-person and virtual peer-to-peer gatherings, and educational programs, FPF helps the broader technology policy and governance community understand the mechanisms and strategies available to protect privacy, promote responsible AI development and deployment, and advance youth online safety. FPF does not typically support or oppose particular bills. Instead, the U.S. Legislation team focuses on explaining the practical and legal implications of proposals – individually and as they interact with one another. This work helps ensure that privacy, AI, and youth safety compliance and policy strategies remain future-looking, adaptable, and workable for the continued, beneficial use of data and AI.
FPF’s U.S. Legislation team is led by Tatiana Rice, Senior Director.
From Uruguay, Chris Wolf: Privacy and Technology in Balance
On Tuesday, October 23, FPF’s Chris Wolf was one of the first plenary speakers at the 34th Annual Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Authorities in Punta Del Este, Uruguay. Here is the text of his remarks: Privacy and Technology in Balance Thank you for the opportunity to present on behalf of the Future of Privacy […]
Washington Privacy Update Event, Chicago, IL
Invitation to those of you in Chicago – please join us! Our friends at BrightTag with help from privacy expert Justine Gottshall are hosting an event for us. Washington Privacy Update Event When: Thursday, October 25th, 10:00am – 11:30 Please RSVP to [email protected] to sign up and we will send you location and details. (no […]
August 9, 2012 – Peter Swire Discusses the Importance of Cybersecurity Legislation at Homeland Security Hearing, TAP
Professor Peter Swire, Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University, testified at last week’s Senate Homeland Security hearing on the state of federal privacy and data security laws.
Senate Commerce Testimony on Privacy and Self-Regulation
On June 28, Ohio State law professor and FPF Senior Fellow Peter Swire testified before the Senate Commerce Committee on “The Need for Privacy Protections: Is Industry Self-Regulation Adequate?” Other witnesses were: Alex Fowler, Global Privacy and Policy Leader for Mozilla; Bob Liodice, President and CEO of the Association of National Advertisers; and Berin Szoka […]
July 17, 2012 – Mobile App Companies Posting More Privacy Policies, Corporate Counsel
As U.S. regulators and lawmakers push to see more privacy policies take hold in the mobile apps space, it appears app developers (and their lawyers) are taking note.
July 12, 2012 – Administration Privacy Approach To Get First Test, Nextgov
When the Obama administration in February rolled out its approach to protecting consumer privacy online, it put as much emphasis on industry self-regulation as it did on its call for legislation to provide consumers with privacy protections.
June 29, 2012 – James Grimmelmann and Peter Swire Testify on Do Not Track, TAP
Recognizing that consumer information is the currency of the web, both sides of Congress have recently held hearings to work toward an understanding of how to balance the needs of businesses for user data and the needs of consumers to have some control over their personal online information.
June 29, 2012 – Advertising industry says they collect user data to protect us, Death and Taxes
The Senate Commerce Committee, led by Senator Jay Rockefeller, yesterday held its “The Need for Privacy Protection: Is Industry Self-Regulation Adequate?”
June 21, 2012 – Republicans call for FCC reform in wake of indecency ruling, Hillicon Valley
GOP Reps. Fred Upton (Mich.) and Greg Walden (Ore.) used the Supreme Court’s indecency ruling on Thursday to push for their bill to overhaul how the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) operates.
May 26, 2012 – Bill would bar employers from accessing workers' online accounts, Chillicothe Gazette
A bill was introduced at the Ohio State house this week that would prevent an employer from asking for access to see private interactions on Facebook and elsewhere online.