LAS VEGAS -- Federal privacy legislation appears increasingly likely, though Congress first needs to work through some hard issues, officials said at CES. Maureen Ohlhausen, former acting FTC chairman, said the agency is paying close attention to protecting data regardless of what Congress does. Much of the discussion at CES focused on the EU general data protection regulation and the new California privacy law. New House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., is interested in a bill (see 1901090038).

LAS VEGAS -- Federal privacy legislation appears increasingly likely, though Congress first needs to work through some hard issues, officials said at CES. Maureen Ohlhausen, former acting FTC chairman, said the agency is paying close attention to protecting data regardless of what Congress does. Much of the discussion at CES focused on the EU general data protection regulation and the new California privacy law. New House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., is interested in a bill (see 1901090038).

LAS VEGAS -- Federal privacy legislation appears increasingly likely, though Congress first needs to work through some hard issues, officials said at CES. Maureen Ohlhausen, former acting FTC chairman, said the agency is paying close attention to protecting data regardless of what Congress does. Much of the discussion at CES focused on the EU general data protection regulation and the new California privacy law. New House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., is interested in a bill (see 1901090038).

Amid a federal shutdown, the Senate established some stability at the FCC Wednesday night, confirming Brendan Carr to another term as commissioner and Geoffrey Starks to the open slot vacated by Mignon Clyburn (see 1901020056). Absent Senate confirmation, both nominations would have expired, and President Donald Trump would have had to renominate both.

Amid a federal shutdown, the Senate established some stability at the FCC Wednesday night, confirming Brendan Carr to another term as commissioner and Geoffrey Starks to the open slot vacated by Mignon Clyburn (see 1901020056). Absent Senate confirmation, both nominations would have expired, and President Donald Trump would have had to renominate both.

Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel accused FCC colleagues of regulatory “doublespeak,” in a decision clarifying text messages are a lightly regulated Communications Act Title I service. Members approved the declaratory ruling 3-1 over her dissent, as expected (see 1812050019). Commission staff couldn't identify any instances where lightly regulating wireless texting would have better prevented spam, and groups that generally back regulation cried foul. Members separately approved a reassigned number database order targeting some unwanted robocalls, with safe harbor from liability (see 1812120026).

Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel accused FCC colleagues of regulatory “doublespeak,” in a decision clarifying text messages are a lightly regulated Communications Act Title I service. Members approved the declaratory ruling 3-1 over her dissent, as expected (see 1812050019). Commission staff couldn't identify any instances where lightly regulating wireless texting would have better prevented spam, and groups that generally back regulation cried foul. Members separately approved a reassigned number database order targeting some unwanted robocalls, with safe harbor from liability (see 1812120026).

NTIA officials organized private meetings this summer with at least 14 different groups representing tech, telco and other industry interests to discuss the Trump administration’s privacy principles (see 1810100057), according to documents we obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. Of the 21 groups included in some 60 NTIA documents, four were consumer or privacy advocates. Industry representatives and a former senior-level FTC official defended the gatherings. Consumer groups said the process was skewed.

NTIA officials organized private meetings this summer with at least 14 different groups representing tech, telco and other industry interests to discuss the Trump administration’s privacy principles (see 1810100057), according to documents we obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. Of the 21 groups included in some 60 NTIA documents, four were consumer or privacy advocates. Industry representatives and a former senior-level FTC official defended the gatherings. Consumer groups said the process was skewed.

State courts may determine the reach of the Supreme Court’s 5-4 summer decision about mobile privacy in Carpenter v. U.S. It said government collection of at least seven days of cellsite location information (CSLI) is a Fourth Amendment-protected search, meaning police must obtain warrants (see 1806220052). Considered a win for privacy supporters, the decision didn’t address some emerging surveillance (see 1807050025).