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White House Privacy Conference
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Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 12:22:49 -0400
From: Marc Rotenberg
Friends,
A meeting was held last week at the Department of Commerce (DOC) to discuss the planning for the Privacy Conference. Here is the latest news:
* - The dates have been changed. The conference is now scheduled for May 13-14.* - The agenda will still include a discussion on the effectiveness of self-regulation* - There will be a plenary session that looks specifically at issues related to children's privacy* - Professor Mary Culnan of Georgetown Business School will present a paper on the elements of self-regulation* - The DOC privacy guidelines are being revised in light of efforts within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to bring countries in line with the 1980 OECD Privacy Guidelines.
Unfortunately, there is still no notice in the Federal Register, no announcement at the Department of Commerce web site, and no means to provide comments over the Internet. While I believe the Department should be commended for improving the conference agenda, more needs to be done to ensure adequate public participation.
If you have not contacted Becky Burr
I can also report that Commerce Secretary William Daley today gave an important speech on "The Emerging Digitial Economy." The Secretary made a number of encouraging remark about privacy and encryption. Mr. Daley described privacy as a "make or break issue" for electronic commerce. He said that the White House was pursuing a policy of self-regulation, but that "industry has been slow to put protections in place." He asked industry to "move quickly to establish an overarching, self-regulatory effort that includes consumer representation."
On the encryption issue, the Secretary was surprisingly candid. He described the effort to implement the current policy as a "failure," and warned that "our own paralysis has made it difficult to persuade other nations to persue policies similar to our own." His comments contrasted sharply with other officials who have claimed that there is support for the US key escrow/ key recovery proposal. Still, Daley said that the administration remains committed to finding a "compromoise" between the interests of law enforcement and business and privacy groups.
Finally, a hearing on privacy issues was held two weeks ago before the Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual of the House Judiciary Committee. David Aaron of the Department of Commerce and the FTC's David Medine testifed for the Administration. EPIC had the opportunity to testify about consumer concerns. The hearing went well, though it is unclear if the Judiciary Committee will take any action on pending privacy legislation before the Congress adjourns.
If you have further comments, please feel free to contact me (rotenberg@epic.org).
Thank you again for your help with this effort.
Marc Rotenberg. EPIC
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REFERENCES
"Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Commerce William M. Daley --The Emerging Digital Economy" (April 15, 1998) http://www.osec.doc.gov/ops/ecom.htm
"Testimony of David L. Aaron before the Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property, House Judiciary Committee" (March 26, 1998) http://www.house.gov/judiciary/41176.htm
"Testimony of Marc Rotenberg before the Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property, House Judiciary Committee" (March 26, 1998) http://www.house.gov/judiciary/41180.htm
"Letter Regarding a Proposed White House Conference on Privacy" (February 28, 1998) http://www.epic.org/privacy/internet/daley_ltr_2_26_98.html
Businessweek, "A Little Net Privacy, Please: Netizens want immediate action from industry and government as consumer-data gathering exceeds the comfort zone." (Mar. 16, 1998) http://www.businessweek.com/1998/11/b3569104.htm
Businessweek, "Privacy: The Key to the New Economy" (Mar 16. 1998) http://www.businessweek.com/premium/11/b3569142.htm
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[PRELIMINARY AGENDA]
> >* > PRIVACY AGENDA * DAY 1 > > >9:00 - 9:30 Welcoming remarks > > >9:30 * 12:00 Setting the Stage For Thinking out of the Box. Panelists >participate in give-and-take discussion of information privacy scenarios. >Discussants will consider privacy issues that arise as Internet users >engage in online browsing, email, and commercial transactions. Panelists >will also consider how -- given the special characteristics of the medium >-- self-regulation, law, OECD guidelines, FTC enforcement, technology, >consumer education and consumer assistance can work together to protect >privacy on the Internet. > > Moderators/Panelists: TBD > > >12:00 - 1:30 Lunch > > 1:30 - 3:00 Elements of Effective Self Regulation. The DOC Staff Paper >on the Elements of Effective Self Regulation will have been refined by >this time, based on public comment. The Paper will be presented and >discussed by a panel including public interest/consumer advocacy >interests, business, Internet users and government personnel with >expertise in self-regulatory systems (e.g. FTC staff responsible for >industry enforcement of consumer protection rules). > > Moderator/Panelists: TBD > >3:00 - 3:15 Break > >3:30 - 5:00 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Self Regulation. >Presentation, followed by peer review, of proposed methodology/ies for >assessing compliance with the Elements Paper (Fair Information Practices >including awareness, choice, data security and consumer access, and >Enforcement, including consumer recourse, verification and consequences, >internal mechanisms for implementing company privacy policies, third party >verification and dispute resolution mechanisms). > > Moderator/Panelists: TBD > >PRIVACY AGENDA - DAY 2 > > >9:00 * 12:30 Concurrent Workshops: Sectoral Snapshots/Responses. >Presentations by industry sectors describing self-regulatory approaches >implemented/planned that include the components outlined in the elements >paper, including verification and dispute resolution procedures. Each >presentation followed by discussion of the pros and cons of the proposed >self regulatory approach, including alternatives such as sectoral or >omnibus legislation, etc. > > Workshop 1: Financial services > > Workshop 2: Internet infrastructure > > Workshop 3: Content providers > > Workshop 4: Advertising & marketing > > Workshop 5: Children > >12:30 - 1:30 Lunch > >1:30 - 2:30 Technologies. Presentation of technological tools to >protect privacy, including contracting mechanisms (P3P, OPS), and control >of identity technologies (crypto, cookie crunchers, annonymizer). >Follow-on discussion. > >2:30 - 2:45 Break > >2:45 - 4:15 Consumer education/Consumer Assistance. Panel discussion >of role of consumer education in privacy self regulation and presentation >of efforts underway to implement consumer education/assistance programs >(e.g. consumer education project; 1-800-PRIVACY, www.privacy.com) > >4:15 - 5:00 Wrap up. Reports from concurrent workshops, next steps.
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Marc Rotenberg, director * +1 202 544 9240 (tel) Electronic Privacy Information Center * +1 202 547 5482 (fax) 666 Pennsylvania Ave., SE Suite 301 * rotenberg@epic.org Washington, DC 20003 USA + http://www.epic.org
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