Oct. 11 Privacy Event: The Digital Collection of Personal Information from Consumers and Citizens

FTC Chairman Leibowitz to Give Update on FTC Efforts to Protect Consumer Privacy While Ensuring Businesses Can Continue to Innovate on the Internet

Major New Study to Be Released Debunking Industry Claims that Digital Data Collection Is Anonymous

 

In Washington D.C. on Tuesday, October 11, privacy and civil liberties experts will convene to discuss how the digital collection of personal information harms consumers and citizens. Every day, companies amass information about consumers via online tracking, digital devices, and public records. These practices are largely unregulated, but have serious consequences for consumers and society.

 

The panel will be held at the National Press Club in the First Amendment Room from 8:45 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Eastern. Public interested in attending can RSVP to [email redacted] or watch LIVE online at http://www.visualwebcaster.com/ProtectingConsumerPrivacyOnline.

 

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz will keynote a discussion on consumers and digital privacy and discuss the proposed FTC framework for protecting consumer privacy while ensuring industry can continue to innovate on the Internet.  

 

Jonathan Mayer from the Stanford Security Lab will release a major new study debunking the myth that digital data collection is anonymous. The study will be followed by a panel discussion documenting the harms that this loss of privacy entails for consumers in the context of upcoming privacy plans from the White House and the FTC. Featured panelists include:

  • Christian Fjeld, Senior Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
  • Beth Givens, Director, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
  • Chris Calabrese, Legislative Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union
  • Ioana Rusu, Regulatory Counsel, Consumers Union

The event is sponsored by the ACLU, Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Consumer Watchdog, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, US PIRG and World Privacy Forum.