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.
FPF Supports and Participates in Recent Privacy Law Scholars Conference; Announces 2011 “Privacy Papers for Policy Makers” Submission Period
Last Thursday and Friday a large group of academic privacy experts—as well as leading government, industry and advocacy participants—gathered at the Privacy Law Scholars Conference (PLSC) in Berkeley, California to discuss and hold workshops on several new papers addressing key privacy issues. The conference was hosted by the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology and […]
FPF Summary of CPUC Smart Grid Rules
On May 6, 2011, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a proposed decision addressing privacy and security concerns around the Smart Grid. The CPUC proposed decision is significant, because it presents the most significant step yet in the U.S. towards a comprehensive set of smart grid privacy rules. With that in mind, we have […]
Future of Privacy Summary of California Public Utilities Commission Proposed Decision on Smart Grid Privacy and Security
Future of Privacy Summary of California Public Utilities Commission Proposed Decision on Smart Grid Privacy and Security May 9, 2011 On May 6th, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a proposed decision by CPUC President Peevey addressing smart grid privacy and security. The CPUC proposed decision presents the most significant step yet in […]
FPF-GW Law Event April 12: "While Legislation Gets Mulled, Privacy Law Gets Made”
The Future of Privacy Forum invites you to another in the series of programs presented in collaboration with the George Washington University Law School “While Legislation Gets Mulled, Privacy Law Gets Made” When: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 Time: 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Where: The George Washington University Law School Faculty Conference Center, 5th […]
FPF Co-Chair Chris Wolf analyzes the draft Kerry privacy bill
FPF Co-Chair Chris Wolf analyzes the draft Kerry privacy bill circulating around Washington in this blog entry: http://www.hldataprotection.com/2011/03/articles/consumer-privacy/draft-commercial-privacy-bill-of-rights-act-of-2011-published/.
FPF Response to New York Times Editorial on Privacy Legislation
Letter to the Editor The New York Times 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018 We agree with your editorial “A New Internet Privacy Law?” (3/19/11) that minimum standards of privacy are needed. But your reflexive call for a “Do Not Track” provision in whatever law emerges ignores important facts. A technology solution already has […]
Privacy in the Legislative Branch: A Quick Update
Take a look at Chris’ perspective on the current state of play in privacy legislation on Capitol Hill: Privacy in the Legislative Branch: A Quick Update.
Jan. 25, 2011 – Google, Mozilla Try to Preempt Regulation, AdWeek News
“There’s no doubt legislators will hold hearings and introduce bills. The question is whether they see leading practices as the ones they want to enshrine,” said Jules Polonetsky, director of the Future of Privacy Forum. “Legislators aren’t going to drop the notion of legislating. On both sides of the aisle, there is a desire to […]
Privacy Insiders Weigh In on FTC and Commerce Reports
Over the past few weeks, the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) has been taking an informal poll from many of its advisory board members, blog readers and Facebook fans to gauge their thoughts on the recent privacy reports released by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Commerce. The FTC report was entitled, “Protecting […]
What Do the FTC and Commerce Reports Mean for the Future of Privacy?
It’s been an extremely busy few weeks in the privacy world as of late. A little more than two weeks ago, the FTC released their long-awaited staff report on “Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change: A Proposed Framework for Businesses and Policymakers,” and yesterday the Department of Commerce’s Internet Safety Task Force […]