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 […]
Privacy Papers 2010
Please see below for leading privacy papers, and those listed as notable mention. Papers listed in alphabetical order. To view the “Privacy Papers for Policy Makers” journal, click here. Leading Papers: Privacy on the Books and on the Ground Kenneth Bamberger and Deirdre Mulligan “Misplaced Confidences: Privacy and the Control Paradox” Laura Brandimarte, Alessandro Acquisti […]
Communicating with Parents about Student Privacy
Recently, a number of bills have been proposed at both federal and state levels aimed at protecting student data privacy. Laws, codes of conduct, better contracts …
Future of Privacy Forum Releases Statement on FTC's Settlement with Retail Tracking Company
“Today’s settlement by the Federal Trade Commission with Nomi, a mobile location tracking company, demonstrates the …
Moving the Internet of Things Forward Without Hard Numbers on Risks
Today’s release of the FTC’s long-awaited report on the Internet of Things concludes that connected devices are “likely to meld the virtual and physical worlds together in ways that are currently difficult to comprehend.” It’s this great unknown where it seems many of the revolutionary benefits and more abstract risks from connectivity lie. While the […]
FPF Statement on FTC Internet of Things Report
The Report, which appropriately does not call for IoT specific legislation, reflects the fact that the Internet of Things is in its infancy, and strongly supports context as a way to assess appropriate uses. The staff recognized concerns that a notice and choice approach could restrict unexpected new uses of data with potential societal benefits. They sensibly incorporated […]
President Obama Backs FPF-SIIA Student Privacy Pledge
President Obama today strongly endorsed the Student Privacy Pledge, calling for more companies to make a firm commitment to using student data only …
A Practical Privacy Paradigm for Wearables
A Practical Privacy Paradigm for Wearables is available to read here. * * * * * * Only a week into 2015, and already it looks to be the year of wearable technologies. At this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), wearables and the Internet of Things have dominated the conversations and the exhibition halls. […]
Discussing the Merits of Device Encryption
In the wake of Apple and Google’s recent decision to implement “whole device encryption” on their latest mobile operating systems, the FBI has warned that the tech giants’ actions will force law enforcement to “go dark” when it comes to keeping tabs of criminals. FPF has previously explored the question of encryption and law enforcement access, […]
"Big Data: Putting Heat on the Hate" by Chris Wolf and Jules Polonetsky
Today, Re/code ran an essay by Chris Wolf and Jules Polonetsky, marking the five year signing of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The two discussed big data’s ability to put the “heat on hate,” concluding that while “[t]hese are still the early days of development for big data and civil rights . . . it is becoming […]