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Never in human history have people been more connected than they are today — nor have they been more thoroughly monitored. Over the past year, the disclosures spurred by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden have drawn public attention to the stunning surveillance capabilities of the American intelligence community, and the unprecedented volume of data they collect from about hundreds of millions of people around the world. But the growth of government surveillance is by no means restricted to spies: Even ordinary law enforcement agencies increasingly employ sophisticated tracking technologies, from face recognition software to “Stingray” devices that can locate suspects by sniffing out their cellular phone signals. Are these tools a vital weapon against criminals and terrorists — or a threat to privacy and freedom? How should these tracking technologies be regulated by the Fourth Amendment and federal law? Can we reconcile the secrecy that spying demands with the transparency that democratic accountability requires?

This inaugural Cato Surveillance Conference will explore these questions, guided by a diverse array of experts: top journalists and privacy advocates; lawyers and technologists; intelligence officials … and those who’ve been targets of surveillance. And for the more practically minded, a special Crypto Reception, following the Conference, will teach attendees how to use privacy-enhancing technologies to secure their own communications.

CPDP 2015 will stage more than 60 panels and workshops with a stimulating mix of academics, practitioners, regulators and advocates, as well as multiple side events such as open debates, PechaKucha performances and artistic interventions. For more information, click here.

This one-day annual event brings leaders in industry, government, and academia, as well as students from Harvard and the Boston area, together for a day of lively conversation about issues raised by modern data science.

Speakers will be addressing the proposition “Society needs new conceptions of privacy” from different perspectives such as scientific research, national security, social media, and computer science and technology.

The depth and breadth of the classified documents leaked by former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden to The Guardian and The Washington Post, is historically unprecedented. This symposium will explore the constitutional and other policy and legal implications of both NSA mass surveillance as well as other forms of big data cybersurveillance. Specifically, the speakers will address the architecture of cybersurveillance tools at the disposal of the NSA and other agencies in the midst of a big data revolution. The participants will examine various policy and legislative proposals that have been recommended in the aftermath of these leaks. Particular attention will be paid to the constitutional interests at stake, as well as the balancing of secrecy and national security objectives with transparency interests and privacy protections. Finally, this symposium will consider the potential impact of government and corporate responses to the Snowden disclosures: current litigation, legislative reform efforts, executive action and compliance approaches, corporate and technological adaptations, and other responses.

Attracting over 600 attendees annually, the State of the Net Conference provides unparalleled opportunities to network and engage on key policy issues. It is also the only Internet policy conference with over 50 percent of Congressional staff and government policymakers in attendance, making it the perfect setting to explore important trends emerging.

For more information, click here.