epic.org

Reconceptualizing the FTC's Understanding of Privacy

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:27:17 -0500

"Reconceptualizing the FTC's Understanding of Privacy"

Marc Rotenberg,
EPIC Executive Director

IAPP Confernce
Willard Hotel
Washington, DC
December 8, 2009

4th Annual Judicial Symposium on Civil Justice Issues

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:26:35 -0500

4th Annual Judicial Symposium on Civil Justice Issues
Law in Cyberspace: Legal Blogging & the Courts

John Verdi,
EPIC Senior Counsel

Northwestern School of Law
Searle Center on Law, Regulation, and Economic Growth
Chicago, IL
December 7, 2009

FTC Privacy Roundtable: Exploring Existing Regulatory Frameworks

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:25:56 -0500

FTC Privacy Roundtable: Exploring Existing Regulatory Frameworks

Marc Rotenberg,
EPIC Executive Director

FTC Conference Center
Washington, DC
December 7, 2009

The Innovation Economy

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:25:16 -0500

The Innovation Economy

Marc Rotenberg,
EPIC Executive Director

Aspen Institute
Reagan Conference Center
Washington, DC
Nov 30 - Dec 1, 2009

DHS Announces "Global Entry" Biometric Identification System for U.S. Airports

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:52:57 -0500

Today, the Department of Homeland Security proposed to make permanent Global Entry, a program the agency says will “streamline the international arrivals and admission process at airports for trusted travelers through biometric identification.” Under the proposed system, pre-registered international travelers can bypass conventional security lines by scanning their passports and fingerprints at a kiosk, answering customs declaration questions, and then presenting a receipt to Customs officials. The DHS announcement follows the recent news that Clear, a Registered Traveler program, had entered bankruptcy, raising questions about the possible sale of the biometric database that was created. In 2005, EPIC testified before Congress that the absence of Privacy Act safeguards for Registered Traveler programs would jeopardize air traveler privacy and security. The agency is taking comments on the proposal. For more information, see EPIC Air Travel Privacy, EPIC Biometric Identifiers, EPIC Automated Targeting System, and EPIC Whole Body Imaging.

EU and US Officials Examine Safe Harbor, Cross Border Data Flow and Privacy

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:05:14 -0500

Officials from the United States and the European Union are meeting in Washington this week to review "Safe Harbor," a framework that allows the processing of data on EU citizens by US firms without traditional legal protections. Safe Harbor has been challenged by the European Parliament and questioned by academic experts. The Federal Trade Commission recently took action against US firms that incorrectly claimed current Safe Harbor certification, but the only penalty imposed was that the companies may not in the future misrepresent membership in any privacy, security, or other compliance program.

President Obama Nominates Brill and Ramirez for Federal Trade Commission

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:56:59 -0500

President Obama nominated Julie Brill and Edith Ramirez to be commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission. Brill, North Carolina’s top consumer advocate, serves as the senior deputy attorney general and chief of consumer protection and antitrust for the North Carolina Department of Justice. Ramirez, who specializes in intellectual property and complex litigation matters, is a partner in a Los Angeles, California law firm and has experience representing companies such as Mattel, Inc. and Northrop Grumman Corp. In a press release, President Obama stated, “These individuals bring a depth of experience to their respective roles, and I am confident they will serve my administration and the American people well. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

Revised Google Books Settlement Announced, Privacy Problems Remain

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:44:53 -0500

The parties in the Google Books Settlement have filed an amended settlement. The Department of Justice, authors, EPIC and other privacy advocates criticized the original settlement. The revised settlement attempts to address price fixing and concerns about orphan works. However, the revised settlement does little to address privacy. Professor Pamela Samuelson stated “There are dozens of provisions in the settlement agreement that call for monitoring of what users do with books and essentially no privacy protections built into the settlement agreement.” For more information, see EPIC Google Books Settlement and Privacy, EPIC Google Books Litigation, and EPIC Google Books: Policy Without Privacy.

Cross Border Data Flows, Data Protection and Privacy

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:27:26 -0500

Cross Border Data Flows, Data Protection and Privacy

Marc Rotenberg,
EPIC Executive Director

Department of Commerce
Washington, DC
November 18, 2009

Congressional Committee Investigating Privacy Office at Homeland Security, Acknowledges Privacy Coalition Letter

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:52:17 -0500

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson has responded to the Privacy Coalition letter regarding the Chief Privacy Officer of the Department of Homeland Security. Chairman Thompson said that "the Committee is in the process of reviewing the programs outlined" in the letter, and thanked the Coalition for bringing the issues to the attention of the committee. He further stated that the Committee "will continue to examine the Department's programs and policies and vigorously address privacy concerns and issues." For more information, see EPIC DHS Privacy Office and Privacy Coalition.

EPIC Urges Government to Protect Privacy in the Smart Grid

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:10:33 -0500

Today, EPIC filed comments with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), urging it to implement robust privacy protections in the Smart Grid. The Smart Grid refers to a host of technologies that will allow unprecedented communication between American energy providers and energy consumers. However, it will also dramatically transform the ability of providers of power services in the United States to track the activities of consumers. For that reason, EPIC urged NIST to establish comprehensive privacy regulations that limit the collection and use of consumer data. For more information, see EPIC Smart Grid and Privacy.

Privacy Legislation Moves Forward in Senate

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:29:36 -0500

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved bipartisan legislation aimed at improving cybersecurity. The Personal Data Privacy and Security Act would establish a national standard for data breach notification and would require companies with databases containing sensitive personal information to establish data privacy and security programs. The bill was drafted in response to the growing number of Internet crimes in recent years. According to Senator Leahy (D-VT), who authored the bill, this legislation “strikes the right balance to protect privacy, promote commerce, and successfully combat identity theft.” The bill has been sent to the Senate for consideration.

IGF 2009: Privacy and Security Implications of Cloud Computing

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:15:09 -0500

Privacy and Security Implications of Cloud Computing

Online Advertising and User Privacy

Marc Rotenberg,
EPIC Executive Director

Katitza Rodriguez,
Public Voice Coordinator

Internet Governance Forum
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
November 15-18, 2009

EPIC Sues Homeland Security for Information About Digital Strip Search Devices

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:03:59 -0500

EPIC filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit challenging the Department of Homeland Security's failure to make public details about the agency's Whole Body Imaging program. The devices capture detailed naked images of air travelers in the United States. After the agency announced that the body scanners would become the primary screening device in US airports, EPIC demanded that the agency disclose records that describe the scanners' capacity to save and transmit images. In June, EPIC sent a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano urging her to suspend the digital strip searches. For more, see EPIC Backscatter X-ray, Whole Body Imaging and EPIC Air Travel Privacy.

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:03:25 -0500