Home

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is currently considering a set of privacy regulations specific to broadband providers, which could result in a departure from the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) flexible privacy framework. A recent Ninth Circuit Court decision has thrown a wrinkle into the jurisdictional boundary between the FCC and FTC, significantly heightening the need for the FCC to harmonize its approach with the FTC. What’s more, the FCC’s privacy proposal has emboldened advocates to seek a ban on Internet service providers offering discounts in exchange for permission to use consumer data commercially. Join ITIF to discuss these latest turns in the FCC privacy debate and where policymakers should go from here.

This year’s summit will take place on October 6-7 in Washington, D.C. It will once again bring together the key policy makers and leading IoT industry stakeholders to discuss the opportunities and benefits the IoT brings. It will also examine the pressing issues affecting the IoT ecosystem in the United States and globally.

There will be a number of plenary sessions that include room-wide discussions, as well as a series of exciting innovations on show from the local community and beyond. It is an opportunity for all stakeholders to join a meaningful discussion and be part of an event that helps to shape future decisions made in the IoT space.

Though law enforcement often does its best to handle sexual assault cases responsibly and fight for justice for survivors, police departments routinely destroy or lose rape kits before the statute of limitations expires, are unable to provide survivors with basic information about their cases, and allow biases and myths about sexual assault to negatively influence their investigations. Police could easily remedy these and other problems by improving how they collect, manage, and use data, but technical, policy, and cultural obstacles prevent them from better utilizing data at every stage of their processes. Now that the Obama administration’s Police Data Initiative is increasing attention to the value of data for improving policing practices and promoting accountability and transparency around issues such as police use of force and discrimination, the stage is set to leverage data to ensure the criminal justice system better serves sexual assault survivors.

Join ITIF’s Center for Data Innovation and Rise, a civil rights nonprofit leading federal and state state efforts to implement legislation to protect the rights of sexual assault survivors, for a panel discussion on how policymakers and law enforcement can develop data-driven policies and practices to help in the fight against sexual assault and improve the lives of survivors.

Since the Snowden leaks in 2013, the Obama administration has learned a number of lessons about balancing national security concerns with digital privacy and trade. Digital surveillance can have far-reaching consequences for U.S. technology companies selling digital good and services abroad, and the president has established a new standard for protecting the data of non-U.S. citizens. Will this hard-earned wisdom in the digital arena carry over to the next administration?

On October 7, Governance Studies at Brookings will host a panel moderated by Center for Technology and Innovation Visiting Fellow Cameron Kerry to discuss what lessons the next president should draw from the past three years. Which policymakers and agencies should advise the next president on digital issues? How should the executive branch respond to these issues and effectively integrate national security, economic growth and competitiveness, human rights, and other concerns in this area?

After the session, panelists will take audience questions.

Last March, National Privacy Commission was officially formed to implement and enforce Data Privacy Act of 2012, came into effect this September.

In connection with this, Mozilla Philippines Community, the non-profit organization behind Firefox, committed to protect the privacy of its users, will be launching a new initiative and organized a series of talk for the whole month of October to help promote awareness of Internet rights, laws and policies in the Philippines, and to increase the privacy literacy of Internet users.

Come join an international conference on data protection in the EU capped off with a debate between various stakeholders. It promises to be a fantastic event.

Participation costs 50€. Students can register at half price (25€), if they can provide a copy of their student card. To register, please send an e-mail to [email protected] (with copy of student card for those who want to benefit from the student rate) and transfer the registration fee before 1 October 2016 to the account of the National Archives, rue de Ruysbroeck 2, 1000 Brussels, BE32 679200780502 – BIC PCHQBEBB, mentioning your name and ‘Congress 10/10’.

Americans are increasingly familiar with drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). These devices have become one of consumers’ most popular technology purchases; some estimate nearly one million new drones will be purchased in 2016. Many consumer drones are controlled by tablet or smartphone, and feature high-definition cameras, GPS, and the ability to fly autonomously. Commercially available drones are even more sophisticated, and are increasingly used for a variety of activities, including monitoring and inspection, news reporting, search and rescue of missing persons, and delivery of commercial packages or medicine to rural areas. With potential to transform entire industries, the devices may generate significant economic benefits. Although drones may offer society numerous benefits, the potential for information collection through filming, photography or other types of monitoring raises the potential for consumer harms including invasion of privacy, identification, trespass, and harassment. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is currently convening multi-stakeholder meetings to develop and communicate best practices for privacy, accountability, and transparency issues regarding commercial and private drone use. We expect these meetings will provide important input for the Commission’s event. The drones workshop will explore the following questions related to commercial uses of drones:

What are the uses and consumer benefits of drones for consumers today?

Where is drone technology headed?

What are the unique privacy and security concerns associated with drone technologies and the data collected from them?

How are these concerns currently being addressed by businesses, self-regulatory efforts, and foreign regulators?

Is there a need for further guidance?