The White House big data report -- three months in the works -- pressed Congress to move on several pieces of data privacy legislation and outlined a research, investment and policy agenda for the administration. More broadly, the report centered the big data discussion on discrimination and fairness, rather than notice and choice (http://1.usa.gov/1ky0reK). In doing so, the White House partially went against its own 2012 consumer privacy bill of rights. “It’s undeniable that big data challenges several of the key assumptions that underpin the current privacy framework, especially around collection and use,” said Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker in a conference call.
The White House big data report -- expected Wednesday or Thursday -- will suggest updates to decades-old privacy laws and guidelines, highlight the discriminatory potential of big data, and launch a yearlong research initiative backed by the National Science Foundation, according to interviews with stakeholders involved in the 90-day review.
The White House big data report -- expected Wednesday or Thursday -- will suggest updates to decades-old privacy laws and guidelines, highlight the discriminatory potential of big data, and launch a yearlong research initiative backed by the National Science Foundation, according to interviews with stakeholders involved in the 90-day review.
Scholars and lawmakers were divided over the political implications of NETmundial, last week’s conference on Internet governance in Sao Paulo, Brazil (WID April 23 p1; April 24 p3; April 28 p4). NETmundial could generate interest among some Republicans in NTIA’s proposed transition of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions, since some regimes, like Russia, expressed skepticism over the conference’s final outcome document (http://bit.ly/1nt0rA6), said Paul Rosenzweig, visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation and founder of Red Branch Consulting, which focuses on homeland security.
Net neutrality was thrust into the national spotlight Wednesday, as major media outlets reported the FCC’s circulating proposal would permit pay-for-priority arrangements on the Internet.
Net neutrality was thrust into the national spotlight Wednesday, as major media outlets reported the FCC’s circulating proposal would permit pay-for-priority arrangements on the Internet. The potential of such a “fast lane” option alarmed consumer advocates, who claim FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is doing an about-face on the promise of what the net neutrality rules were put in place to prevent. Some former commissioners and staffers question whether the agency will be able to handle a net neutrality item in addition to the two auction items already scheduled for the May meeting.
Net neutrality was thrust into the national spotlight Wednesday, as major media outlets reported the FCC’s circulating proposal would permit pay-for-priority arrangements on the Internet. The potential of such a “fast lane” option alarmed consumer advocates, who claim FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is doing an about-face on the promise of what the net neutrality rules were put in place to prevent. Some former commissioners and staffers question whether the agency will be able to handle a net neutrality item in addition to the two auction items already scheduled for the May meeting.
After three-plus years, featuring shuffled leadership, numerous defections and a significant change in tactics, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)-backed Do Not Track (DNT) working group moved its first document -- a tracking preference expression (TPE) -- to last call (http://bit.ly/1pu1At4). But the document, now open to a public comment period until June 18, has detractors. Two third-party advertising representatives objected to moving the TPE document to last call, arguing it lacked a way to validate a DNT signal, favored large companies and did little to enhance privacy. The group’s co-chairs determined the objections had either been previously addressed or were process-related and not part of the move to last call.
After three-plus years, featuring shuffled leadership, numerous defections and a significant change in tactics, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)-backed Do Not Track (DNT) working group moved its first document -- a tracking preference expression (TPE) -- to last call (http://bit.ly/1pu1At4). But the document, now open to a public comment period until June 18, has detractors. Two third-party advertising representatives objected to moving the TPE document to last call, arguing it lacked a way to validate a DNT signal, favored large companies and did little to enhance privacy. The group’s co-chairs determined the objections had either been previously addressed or were process-related and not part of the move to last call.
The Senate confirmed Terrell McSweeny as an FTC commissioner by a 95-1 vote Wednesday. That fills the final FTC commissioner seat, which has been vacant since Jon Leibowitz left March 7, 2013. The Democrats now hold a 3-2 majority among FTC commissioners, which has caused some observers to wonder if it will take a more proactive stance on data privacy issues. “This may result in cases or issues being brought up that wouldn’t have been with an evenly split commission, for example in the privacy/data security area,” said Thomas Lenard, president of the tech, telecom and cable industry-backed Technology Policy Institute (TPI), by email.