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.
Do Not Track Hearing Takeaways
Organized by Sen. Rockefeller (D-W. Virginia), who has repeatedly pushed for a “Do Not Track” law, yesterday’s Senate Commerce Commerce Committee hearing on Do Not Track (DNT) was billed as an opportunity for industry to provide senators with an update on how voluntary DNT standards were proceeding. Joined by Senators Blumenthal, Heller, McCaskill, and Thune, […]
Domestic Drones Should Embrace Privacy by Design
Ironically, the vocal public concern about drones actually combats one of the biggest challenges to implementing …
Key Elements of a Code of Conduct for Mobile Apps Transparency
Guest blog post from Mary J. Culnan, Senior Fellow at the Future of Privacy Forum In February 2012, the White House issued a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights. In the report, the White House proposed legislation based on the privacy principles in the report and called on NTIA to convene stakeholders to develop enforceable codes of […]
FCC Ruling Allows “One-Time Opt-Out Confirmation Messages” to Continue
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a declaratory ruling confirming “that sending a one-time text message confirming a consumer’s request that no further messages be sent does not violate the 1991 Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) or Commission rules.” The FCC ruling comes in response to a petition filed earlier this year by SoundBite […]
FPF Senior Fellow Peter Swire Quoted in NYT Front Page Story on ECPA
FPF Senior Fellow and the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Professor Peter Swire was quoted today in a New York Times front page story highlighting challenges to applying the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) to mobile technologies. Here is a passage: As technology races ahead of the law, courts and lawmakers are […]
FPF to co-host App Developers Privacy Summit series in D.C. on Nov. 29th
We’re hosting an event with the Application Developers Alliance in D.C. on Thursday, November 29th and we would love to see you there! It’s free to register, but space is limited. Here are the details – please feel free to share this information with anyone who might be interested: Free Happy Hour + Application Developer […]
Proposed Framework for a Policy Protecting Customer Information Privacy in Michigan
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) recently requested information and comments related to its proposed framework for a policy protecting customer information privacy. The Commission’s current rules, 1999 AC, R 460.101 et seq., Consumer Standards and Billing Practices for Residential Customers provide some limited protection of customer privacy with respect to billing information. The new […]
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.