Search results

Last week, we launched The Israel Tech Policy Institute, an incubator for tech policy leadership and scholarship, advancing ethical practices in support of emerging technologies. Co-founded by Jules Polonetsky, CEO of the Future of Privacy Forum, and Omer Tene, an Israeli law professor and VP and Chief Knowledge Office at the International Association of Privacy Professionals, the Israel Technology Policy Institute is a new think tank established to provoke, convene and lead policy discussions and support research on privacy, cybersecurity and ethical use of technologies.

This morning, Facebook announced that they will begin rolling out new requirements for its “Custom Audiences” targeting tool for advertisers. These updates are a useful step towards creating better user understanding of data flows both on Facebook and in the broader web, and enhancing the accountability of advertisers who use custom marketing lists.

FPF has partnered with the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) to continue our series of free privacy bootcamps for ed tech companies during the ISTE conference in Chicago. Slots are limited, so RSVP to attend now!

In the world of consumer privacy, including the Internet of Things (IoT), mobile data, and advertising technologies (“Ad Tech”), it can often be difficult to measure real-world impact and conceptualize individual harms and benefits. Fortunately, academic researchers are increasingly focusing on these issues, leading to impressive scholarship from institutions such as the Princeton Center for Information Technology Policy (CITP), Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science, UC Berkeley School of Information, and many others, including non-profits and think tanks.

On May 24, the Future of Privacy Forum was honored to co-host a “Toast to Privacy” with the European Union Delegation to the United States to mark the implementation of GDPR and celebrate those who have been working on related projects. The event was held at the Delegation of the European Union’s offices and was attended by public and private sector, government, and civil society leaders from Europe and the United States. 

Fordham University’s Center on Law and Information Policy (CLIP) just released the study, “Transparency and the Marketplace for Student Data,” which examines the practices of data brokers who buy and sell information about students. In the study, the authors describe existing privacy laws, map the commercial marketplace, and describe the challenges of understanding how data about students is collected and used.

Amelia Vance, FPF’s Director of Education Privacy, spoke today at the Federal Commission on Student Safety’s Listening Session. She asked that any Commission recommendations include the need for privacy “guardrails” around school safety measures to ensure that student privacy and equity are protected.

Lauren Smith, a FPF Policy Counsel, was recently featured in 2025 AD. Lauren leads the FPF Connected Cars Working Group, and serves a global expert and thought leader through speaking engagements, media interviews, and interaction with state and federal regulators and strategic partners. In this exclusive interview, she discusses best practices to advance privacy practices and understanding as new mobility technologies come to market.

Ed Tech vendors that use student data to provide services in schools must navigate a complicated legal landscape, including intertwining state and federal laws, all of which are designed to protect student privacy.

Washington, D.C– Today, Future of Privacy Forum’s (FPF) Amelia Vance, Director of the Education Privacy Project, will deliver testimony in a hearing before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, “Protecting Privacy, Promoting Data Security: Exploring How Schools and States Keep Data Safe.” In her prepared testimony, Vance will comment on how states, districts and ed tech companies can work together in ensuring student privacy.