Mobile Apps Study Underscores Necessity of Strong Best Practices for Health and Wellness Data
Kelsey Finch, FPF Policy Counsel, presented FPF’s 2016 Mobile Apps Study at the Federal Trade Commission’s annual PrivacyCon on January 12, 2017. Kelsey presented a visual representation of the App Study designed by FPF Fellow, Carolina Alonso. See the visual.
FPF Welcomes New Fellows
FPF is pleased to welcome Gabriela Zanfir-Fortuna and Leslie Harris!
Video Archive: 2016 Privacy Papers for Policymakers
On January 11, 2017, FPF and Honorary Co-Hosts Senator Edward J. Markey, and Co-Chairs of the Congressional Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus, Congressman Joe Barton, and Congresswoman Diana DeGette, held the 7th Annual Privacy Papers for Policymakers at the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
FPF Supports the Email Privacy Act – H.R. 387
Yesterday, Congress introduced the Email Privacy Act (H.R. 387), which would update protections in the Electronic Communications Act (ECPA) to take account of citizens’ evolving use of technology and better align the law with consumers’ reasonable expectations of privacy in the contents of their email communications.
The Privacy Policy Snapshot Challenge – $20,000 First Prize.
The Privacy Policy Snapshot Challenge calls upon developers, designers, health data privacy experts, and creative, out-of-the-box thinkers to use the US Department of Health and Human Services ONC’s Model Privacy Notice template to create an online tool that can generate a user-friendly “snapshot” of a product’s privacy practices.
FPF Testifies at NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission Hearing
Yesterday, Lauren Smith, FPF Policy Counsel testified at the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission’s (TLC) hearing about its proposed rules that add new trip reporting requirements for for-hire vehicle (FHV) bases.
Conference Proceedings – Beyond IRBs Designing Ethical Review Processes for Big Data Research
Today, FPF is pleased to make available the Conference Proceedings from our Beyond IRBs: Designing Ethical Review Processes for Big Data Research workshop. The workshop, co-hosted by the Washington & Lee School of Law and supported by the National Science Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, aimed to identify processes and commonly accepted ethical principles for data research in academia, government and industry.
NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission Proposal Requiring Drop-Off Location Data Raises Privacy Concerns
On Monday, the Future of Privacy Forum joined with the Center for Democracy & Technology, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, The Constitution Project, and Tech Freedom to write the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) about its proposed rules that add new trip reporting requirements for for-hire vehicle (FHV) bases.
FPF Statement on Privacy and Wearables
A new report released today by the Center for Digital Democracy and the School of Communications at American University focuses on privacy and wearables. As a recent HHS report made clear, the data collected by most wearables is not regulated to the same degree as information you provide to your doctor. But several mechanisms have ensured that many health and fitness apps respect users’ data – the leading app platforms impose strong privacy requirements, barring sale of sensitive data and requiring enhanced notice.
Future of Privacy Forum Comment Regarding Senator Bill Nelson's Report, “Children's Connected Toys: Data Security and Privacy Concerns”
Today, Senator Nelson’s office released a report outlining several privacy and security implications of “connected toys” that the office identified based on conversations with six major toy manufacturers. The report emphasizes the unique sensitivity of children’s personal information; urges toymakers to build privacy and security into their toys from the inception; and suggests that the FTC has authority to monitor and bring enforcement actions under Section 5 and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).