FTC Wants Tools to Increase Transparency and Trust in Big Data
However we want to define “Big Data” – and the FTC’s latest workshop on the subject suggests a consensus definition remains elusive – the path forward seems to call for more transparency and the establishment of firmer frameworks on the use of data. As Chairwoman Ramirez suggested in her opening remarks, Big Data calls for […]
Lessons from Fair Lending Law for Fair Marketing and Big Data
Lessons from Fair Lending Law for Fair Marketing and Big Data Where discrimination presents a real threat, big data need not necessary lead us to a new frontier. Existing laws, including the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and other fair lending laws, provide a number of protections that are relevant when big data is used for […]
Synopsis: Education Privacy Hearing—How Data Mining Threatens Student Privacy
Yesterday, the House of Representatives Education Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education and the Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies held a joint hearing to discuss “How Data Mining Threatens Student Privacy.” Four witnesses presented testimony from a number of perspectives: (1) Joel R. Reidenberg, Chair and Professor of […]
FPF list of Federal Anti-discrimination laws
Civil rights groups have recently highlighted the importance of respecting civil rights in this era of “big data” . The White House has echoed these concerns in its Big Data Privacy Review. As supporters of the benefits of responsible data use, we thought it would be helpful to companies and advocates to have a convenient list of existing […]
Protecting Privacy and People Using Airbnb to Go on Vacation
Last month, Attorney General Schneiderman made waves when he subpoenaed data on 15,000 New York City-based users of Airbnb, the service best known for allowing people to rent out their spare bedrooms or their homes while on vacation. The Attorney General is seeking to identify local landlords that are using Airbnb’s service to regularly rent […]
The FTC’s Upcoming “Internet Of Things” Workshop: FPF Projects And Resources
Next Tuesday, The Federal Trade Commission will host a workshop on the “Internet of Things,” (IoT), the name commonly used to describe the next generation of connected (or “smart”) devices. As we enter the age of the Internet of Things, soon our homes will know about our energy consumption habits, our cars will know how […]
Nov. 2, 2012 With Chairman’s Likely Exit, Guessing Game Has Begun at the Federal Trade Commission
Regardless of who wins in Tuesday’s voting, Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz is widely expected to leave his post after the election, sparking speculation over who could be in line to head the agency charged with protecting consumers and ensuring competition. “Chairman of the FTC, if you’re a privacy person or a consumer-protection person, […]
Swire Cybersecurity Op-Ed in The Hill
FPF Senior Fellow Peter Swire just published an op-ed in The Hill titled “Moving Too Fast on Cybersecurity.” In the piece, Swire cautioned against rushing cybersecurity legislation through Congress. To see the full op-ed, click here.
Jules Polonetsky’s KRLD Radio Interview on Online Privacy
On Tuesday October 18, FPF’s Jules Polonetsky spoke with Mitch Carr from KRLD Radio broadcasting out to Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas about online privacy and the current state of Do Not Track. Please click here to listen to the clip.
House Hearing on Consumer Privacy
“It’s the reputational harm that we are all concerned about,” said Chairwoman Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) at today’s hearing, the fourth in a series of hearings on online privacy. Members of U.S. House’s Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade were in disagreement over how to best protect consumers online as consumer attitudes toward privacy […]