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 […]
Android 5.0, Lollipop: Major New Privacy Features
Earlier this month, Google announced the final release of Android 5.0 Lollipop, also known as Android L. Lollipop includes a number of valuable new privacy features worth special applause. Default Encryption New phones and tablets with Lollipop come with encryption automatically turned on to help protect data on lost or stolen devices or from […]
Google Taps the YubiKey for Better Account Security
With identity theft and cybersecurity issues in the news seemingly on a daily basis, better tools to protect our data – and our privacy – are always welcome. For some time, FPF has endorsed the use of two-factor authentication as an “extra” step consumers can take to protect their accounts across a variety of online services. While everyone at FPF uses […]
K-12 Student Privacy Pledge Announced
Today Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) and Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) provided the following press release. Additional FPF Resources and Publications on this topic are listed …
Do Beacons Track You? No, You Track Beacons
BuzzFeed News today reports that phone booths in NYC are tracking people and can send them ads. Let’s explain this rapidly spreading new technology we often see described inaccurately. First, let’s step back and understand how your phone or apps on your phone that you grant permission to access your location are able to […]
Thoughts on the Data Innovation Pledge
Yesterday, as he accepted the IAPP Privacy Vanguard award, Intel’s David Hoffman made a “data innovation pledge” that he would work only to promote ethical and innovative uses of data. As someone who only relatively recently entered the privacy world by diving headfirst into the sea of challenges surrounding big data, I think an affirmative […]