TPC News Roundup - August 2
Summer may be in full swing, but there is a lot going on in the world of tech policy. Here are just a few of the news stories we've been following recently:
New York Times article by Charlie Savage, July 29, 2010 --
White House Seeks to Clarify F.B.I. Powers vis-à-vis E-Mail
The Obama administration says that its request that Congress give the F.B.I. the authority to review electronic communications information like e-mails without a warrant is an attempt to "clarify a confusingly written statute" -- not an effort to grant the agency with new powers. Nonetheless, Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont said the request raised "serious privacy and civil liberties concerns." Read more at The New York Times.
Politico article by Kim Hart, July 28, 2010 --
Facebook CEO talks privacy on Hill
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and other members of the company's executive team were in the Nation's Capitol last week to meet with legislators. The visit followed news that the online social network now has over 500 million users, most of them located in countries other than the United States.
While Politico described Zuckerberg's trip as a "short, stealthy visit," we had a chance to watch company CTO Bret Taylor testify in public during the Senate Commerce Committee's hearing on online consumer privacy last Tuesday. Taylor joined representatives from Google, AT&T and Apple in asking Congress to allow the private sector to address data privacy through innovation rather than by imposing new regulations. Read more about the hearing in Tony Romm's article here.
Daily Online Examiner post by Wendy Davis, July 28, 2010 --
Why Do-Not-Track Isn't The Same As Do-Not-Call
At the same Senate Commerce Committee hearing on online privacy, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chairman Jon Leibowitz said the agency may consider developing a "Do Not Track" program for online behavioral ads. Similiar to the concept of the "Do Not Call" list for telemarketers, which recently hit 200 million phone numbers, the idea of allowing consumers to opt out of behavioral ad targeting is just one of the ideas the FTC may recommend when it releases a report on consumer privacy later this year.
According to MediaPost blogger Wendy Davis, though, the proposal wouldn't prevent consumers from being served ads - and in fact, she argues, would make the ads they do receive less relevant. She also points out existing ways consumers can opt-out of online ads. Read her commentary here, and get more info on the hearing at Tech Daily Dose.
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Tags: Apple, ATT, Bret Taylor, Congress, Facebook, FTC, Google, Jon Leibowitz, Mark Zuckerberg, privacy, White House
Tech Policy
Aug 2, 2010
TPC News Roundup - August 2
Summer may be in full swing, but there is a lot going on in the world of tech policy. Here are just a few of the news stories we've been following recently:
New York Times article by Charlie Savage, July 29, 2010 --
White House Seeks to Clarify F.B.I. Powers vis-à-vis E-Mail
The Obama administration says that its request that Congress give the F.B.I. the authority to review electronic communications information like e-mails without a warrant is an attempt to "clarify a confusingly written statute" -- not an effort to grant the agency with new powers. Nonetheless, Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont said the request raised "serious privacy and civil liberties concerns." Read more at The New York Times.
Politico article by Kim Hart, July 28, 2010 --
Facebook CEO talks privacy on Hill
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and other members of the company's executive team were in the Nation's Capitol last week to meet with legislators. The visit followed news that the online social network now has over 500 million users, most of them located in countries other than the United States.
While Politico described Zuckerberg's trip as a "short, stealthy visit," we had a chance to watch company CTO Bret Taylor testify in public during the Senate Commerce Committee's hearing on online consumer privacy last Tuesday. Taylor joined representatives from Google, AT&T and Apple in asking Congress to allow the private sector to address data privacy through innovation rather than by imposing new regulations. Read more about the hearing in Tony Romm's article here.
Daily Online Examiner post by Wendy Davis, July 28, 2010 --
Why Do-Not-Track Isn't The Same As Do-Not-Call
At the same Senate Commerce Committee hearing on online privacy, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chairman Jon Leibowitz said the agency may consider developing a "Do Not Track" program for online behavioral ads. Similiar to the concept of the "Do Not Call" list for telemarketers, which recently hit 200 million phone numbers, the idea of allowing consumers to opt out of behavioral ad targeting is just one of the ideas the FTC may recommend when it releases a report on consumer privacy later this year.
According to MediaPost blogger Wendy Davis, though, the proposal wouldn't prevent consumers from being served ads - and in fact, she argues, would make the ads they do receive less relevant. She also points out existing ways consumers can opt-out of online ads. Read her commentary here, and get more info on the hearing at Tech Daily Dose.
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Tags: Apple, ATT, Bret Taylor, Congress, Facebook, FTC, Google, Jon Leibowitz, Mark Zuckerberg, privacy, White House
Tech Policy
Jul 13, 2010
TPC News Roundup - July 13
Wired's Danger Room blog post by Spencer Ackerman, July 8, 2010 --
How To Stop Cyberattacks: Diplomacy. Well, Maybe.
A new approach to cybersecurity problems? The fine art of diplomacy and a "protection strategy" could be the answer, according to the Department of Energy's intelligence chief Bruce Held. What do you think? Read more at Wired.
Ars Technica article by Nate Anderson, July 8, 2010 --
FCC broadband plan will put US in "second tier of countries"
According to Ars Technica, members of Congress have been asking if the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) new national broadband plan goes far enough in calling for 4Mbps of universal broadband by the year 2020. The article adds that the FCC has set 4Mbps as a minimum requirement that it will revisit. Read more at Ars Technica.
Techcrunch article by Leena Rao, July 9, 2010 --
NTP Sues Apple, Google, Microsoft And Others Over Wireless Email Patents
NTP Inc., an intellectual property holding company considered a "patent troll" in some circles, filed a lawsuit against several major tech companies - including Apple, Motorola, Google and Microsoft. NTP alleges that the companies infringed on wireless e-mail patents that it owns. Read more at Techcrunch.
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Tags: Apple, broadband, Congress, cybersecurity, FCC, Google, intellectual property, Julius Genachowski, Microsoft, Motorola, NTP, patents, rural broadband, security
pii2010
Jul 13, 2010
Innovate!2010 Pitch Slam Planned for pii2010
As part of our new pii2010 (privacy identity innovation) conference, which is taking place August 17-19 in downtown Seattle during Seattle Geek Week, we're teaming up with Guidewire Group to co-host a startup "Pitch Slam" on the evening of August 17th.
Co-founded by Mike Sigal and longtime DEMO producer Chris Shipley, Guidewire Group is producing a global competition called Innovate!2010 to identify and promote up-and-coming tech startups from around the world, and we're excited to be featuring an Innovate!2010 Pitch Slam at pii2010 where eight startups will compete to deliver the best pitch.
The winner of the Seattle Pitch Slam will be automatically included on the Innovate!100 list of most promising startups that will be released later this year.
Applications are now being accepted from startups that want to be considered for a spot at the Pitch Slam (it's free to apply), and admission to the Pitch Slam is included with your pii2010 conference registration. So, sign up for pii2010 today.
Guests who aren't registered for pii2010 can still buy a ticket to the Innovate!2010 Pitch Slam for $40.
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Tags: Guidewire Group, identity, innovation, pii, pii2010, privacy
Tech Policy
Jul 9, 2010
TPC News Roundup - July 9
Forbes' On the Docket blog post by Kimberly Gold, July 7, 2010 --
EU Takes Aim at Search Engines
The European Commission is investigating complaints that search engine companies are allegedly keeping their competitors' search rankings low. British price comparison website Foundem and French legal site Ejustice.fr are among the European companies claiming that Google ranked their sites lower in search results. Read more at Forbes.com.
Wall Street Journal article by Siobhan Gorman, July 8, 2010 --
U.S. Plans Cyber Shield for Utilities, Companies
According to the Wall Street Journal, the federal government is launching the "Perfect Citizen" program to try and prevent cyber assaults on companies and government agencies. As part of the program, the National Security Agency would use sensors to detect attacks against important infrastructure like the electricity grid. Read more at The Wall Street Journal.
Ars Technica article by Nate Anderson, July 8, 2010 --
ISPs may rage, but Uncle Sam supports city-owned Internet
Ars takes a look at rural cities receiving funding and support from the federal government for city-owned fiber networks, like a small Wisconsin city that recently grabbed $5.24 million from the Department of Agriculture. Read more (and take a look at this great graphic) at Ars Technica.
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Tags: antitrust, cyber security, EU, European Commission, Google, NSA, security, smart grid
