Party-line legislation that would curtail the time period for FTC consent orders, impose an annual reporting requirement about investigations and mandate that the commission perform economic analyses for its recommendations will be considered during a House Commerce Committee markup Wednesday. The FTC bill is mainly supported by Republicans and has been blasted by consumer protection groups, but the panel will also review several bipartisan bills aimed at stopping ticket brokers from using bots to snag large numbers of event tickets, preventing companies from gagging consumers' online free speech and ensuring amateur radio operators' rights to use of their equipment.

Party-line legislation that would curtail the time period for FTC consent orders, impose an annual reporting requirement about investigations and mandate that the commission perform economic analyses for its recommendations will be considered during a House Commerce Committee markup Wednesday. The FTC bill is mainly supported by Republicans and has been blasted by consumer protection groups, but the panel will also review several bipartisan bills aimed at stopping ticket brokers from using bots to snag large numbers of event tickets, preventing companies from gagging consumers' online free speech and ensuring amateur radio operators' rights to use of their equipment.

Industry stakeholders agreed to new privacy best practices for the commercial use of facial recognition technology at an NTIA-hosted meeting Wednesday. Also as expected, (see 1606140014), it came without the blessing -- or presence -- of several prominent civil liberties and consumer organizations. They said the recommendations offered "scant guidance for businesses and no real protection for individuals."

Industry stakeholders agreed to new privacy best practices for the commercial use of facial recognition technology at an NTIA-hosted meeting Wednesday. Also as expected, (see 1606140014), it came without the blessing -- or presence -- of several prominent civil liberties and consumer organizations. They said the recommendations offered "scant guidance for businesses and no real protection for individuals."

Industry stakeholders agreed to new privacy best practices for the commercial use of facial recognition technology at an NTIA-hosted meeting Wednesday. Also as expected, (see 1606140014), it came without the blessing -- or presence -- of several prominent civil liberties and consumer organizations. They said the recommendations offered "scant guidance for businesses and no real protection for individuals."

Tuesday’s court ruling upholding the FCC net neutrality order likely forecloses any legislative movement on the topic this Congress, lawmakers in both chambers and from both parties told us after the ruling. The 2-1 U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see 1606140023) ruling frustrated Republicans and thrilled Democrats, many of whom released statements and expressed interest in the expected appeals process. Capitol Hill offices had been watching closely for the long-awaited D.C. Circuit ruling and weighing legislative possibilities depending on the ruling (see 1606090064).

Tuesday’s court ruling upholding the FCC net neutrality order likely forecloses any legislative movement on the topic this Congress, lawmakers in both chambers and from both parties told us after the ruling. The 2-1 U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (see 1606140023) ruling frustrated Republicans and thrilled Democrats, many of whom released statements and expressed interest in the expected appeals process. Capitol Hill offices had been watching closely for the long-awaited D.C. Circuit ruling and weighing legislative possibilities depending on the ruling (see 1606090064).

AT&T, Cablevision and Comcast are violating consumer privacy through their “opt-out” data collection, said Public Knowledge and several other public interest groups in complaints filed with the FCC and FTC Thursday. Despite federal law and FCC regulations that emphasize “the importance of giving consumers control over how their information is being used,” pay-TV carriers have “continued to use large amounts of their customers’ data without properly obtaining customer consent or informing subscribers of the extent of the use of their information,” said the complaints filed by PK, the Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer Watchdog, Consumer Federation of America and The Utility Reform Network. “There isn't anything worse that can happen to a person's data than what the cable industry is doing with it right now,” said Public Knowledge Senior Vice President Harold Feld in an interview. AT&T disagreed.

AT&T, Cablevision and Comcast are violating consumer privacy through their “opt-out” data collection, said Public Knowledge and several other public interest groups in complaints filed with the FCC and FTC Thursday. Despite federal law and FCC regulations that emphasize “the importance of giving consumers control over how their information is being used,” pay-TV carriers have “continued to use large amounts of their customers’ data without properly obtaining customer consent or informing subscribers of the extent of the use of their information,” said the complaints filed by PK, the Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer Watchdog, Consumer Federation of America and The Utility Reform Network. “There isn't anything worse that can happen to a person's data than what the cable industry is doing with it right now,” said Public Knowledge Senior Vice President Harold Feld in an interview. AT&T disagreed.

A new voluntary privacy best practices guide for commercial and private drone operators, agreed to by some participants Wednesday through a collaborative NTIA-driven process, is being praised by some organizations (see 1605180044). "This forward-thinking approach facilitates the development of well-informed and thoughtful standards that balance privacy rights with the need to protect US innovation and economic competitiveness," said the Small UAV Coalition in a statement issued after Wednesday's meeting. Chris Calabrese, Center for Democracy and Technology vice president-policy, said in a statement the document has several important elements such as restricting "persistent and continuous" data collection of people and a detailed data collection policy, saying operators can't retain data longer than "reasonably necessary," and requiring drone operators to "minimize operations" over private property without consent of the property owner or legal authority. Participants began meeting in August. While many representatives appeared to support the document, several drone industry, insurance and privacy representatives said Wednesday they didn't for various reasons, saying further meetings wouldn't be productive. “Drones are already being used for search and rescue and to assist farmers, home contractors, photographers, newsgatherers, and may soon be used for wireless internet and delivery. These standards will help ensure these technologies are deployed with privacy in mind," said Future of Privacy Forum CEO Jules Polonetsky in a statement in support. Brian Wynne, CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, said in a statement that the document will help "facilitate the safe and responsible use" of drones. "Rather than create a complicated patchwork of new laws to address privacy, AUVSI encourages states and municipalities to allow commercial operators to adopt these uniform, federal privacy best practices," he said. Angela Simpson, NTIA deputy assistant secretary for communications and information, said in a blog post the voluntary guide will help build consumer trust, give users tools to innovate while respecting privacy and also provide accountability and transparency. NTIA will work with stakeholders to disseminate and promote the practices widely, she said.