White House/MIT Big Data Privacy Workshop Recap
Speaking for everyone snowed-in in DC, White House Counselor John Podesta remarked that “big snow trumped big data,” while on the phone to open the first of the Obama Administration’s three big data and privacy workshops. This first workshop focused on advancing the “start of the art” in technology and practice. While these workshops are ultimately the […]
A New Privacy Paradigm for the “Internet of Things”
Today the FTC is hosting a workshop on the Internet of Things, which will feature many great panelists including FPF’s Co-Chairman Christopher Wolf. Chris and FPF Executive Director Jules Polonetsky have also today released a whitepaper arguing for a new privacy paradigm in the new highly connected world. The whitepaper argues that current implementations of […]
Terrell McSweeny Touches on Privacy Issues During Confirmation Hearing
During her confirmation hearing today, Terrell McSweeny briefly touched upon privacy issues. With her children in the background, she noted that she is particularly cognizant of the need to protect children’s privacy. Noting that her small children were already both “iPad and app proficient,” she recognized that mobile technology–and the ways that children are using this […]
Campaigns, the Internet, and Big Data
In this morning’s Politico, Emile Schultheis explores how German politicians are trying to emulate the Obama’s campaign data and digital operation in advance of the country’s September 22 federal election. “The Internet has come into the center of the campaign,” Robert Heinrich, Green Party campaign manager, is quoted as saying. He notes, however, that campaigns […]
FTC Provides Limited “Safe Harbor” for Users of a “Do Not Track for Kids” Flag
The new Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) rule that went into effect earlier this month restricts almost all forms of tracking across child-directed sites other than for a set of limited “internal operations purposes.” Child-directed sites are now strictly liable for any third party tracking on their sites that do not meet COPPA’s limited […]
What's Scary About Big Data, and How to Confront It
Any discussion surrounding the benefits–and the risks–presented by Big Data often focuses on the far-off future. The world of Minority Report is frequently invoked, but in the wake of April’s “Big Data Week,” it is time to recognize that Big Data is already here. In their recent book, Big Data: A Revolution that Will Transform […]
New Study Shows Need for De-identification Best Practices
Publically releasing sensitive information is risky. In 1997, Latanya Sweeney used full date of birth, 5 digit ZIP code, and gender to show that seemingly anonymous medical data could be linked to an actual person when she uncovered the health information of William Weld, the former governor of Massachusetts. Sweeney in a new study analyzes […]
Do Not Track Hearing Takeaways
Organized by Sen. Rockefeller (D-W. Virginia), who has repeatedly pushed for a “Do Not Track” law, yesterday’s Senate Commerce Commerce Committee hearing on Do Not Track (DNT) was billed as an opportunity for industry to provide senators with an update on how voluntary DNT standards were proceeding. Joined by Senators Blumenthal, Heller, McCaskill, and Thune, […]
Domestic Drones Should Embrace Privacy by Design
Ironically, the vocal public concern about drones actually combats one of the biggest challenges to implementing …
Big Data and Privacy: Making Ends Meet Conference
Solutions to many pressing economic and societal challenges may be found in better understanding data, from safer cities to cleaner air, but as the amount and variety of data collection continues to increase, our data-driven society also poses serious concerns about infringements on privacy. The need for a way forward is evident, and both corporate […]