http://privacycoalition.org/ en Copyright 2010 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:52:43 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Meeting participants. Meeting Agenda. ]]> http://privacycoalition.org/2010/02/2010_annual_privacy_coalition.php http://privacycoalition.org/2010/02/2010_annual_privacy_coalition.php Events Meeting Calendar Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:52:43 -0500 complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, urging the FTC to open an investigation into Facebook's revised privacy settings. The complaint, led by EPIC is signed by nine other privacy and consumer organizations, states that the "changes violate user expectations, diminish user privacy, and contradict Facebook's own representations." There has been widespread opposition from Facebook users, security experts, bloggers, and news organizations. ]]> http://privacycoalition.org/2009/12/privacy_coalition_members_defe.php http://privacycoalition.org/2009/12/privacy_coalition_members_defe.php Actions Campaigns News Top Issues Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:34:50 -0500 urged a federal agency to establish safeguards for Smart Grid systems that protect consumer electricity usage information from unauthorized collection, use, disclosure, or sale. Smart Grid networks, which uniquely identify individual devices and appliances, create new privacy risks and could reveal intimate details of home life. EPIC recommended that policies be established to safeguard consumer privacy, including limitations on data collection, enforceable privacy practices, new security standards, and independent oversight.]]> http://privacycoalition.org/2009/12/privacy_coalition_members_send.php http://privacycoalition.org/2009/12/privacy_coalition_members_send.php News Rulemaking Top Issues Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:36:50 -0500 Biometric Center at Carnegie Mellon University and a Research Assistant Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at CMU. He spoke about advances in biometric identification systems that go beyond the need to create databases of those enrolled for authentication purposes.]]> http://privacycoalition.org/2009/12/november_mary_ellen_callahan_m.php http://privacycoalition.org/2009/12/november_mary_ellen_callahan_m.php Meeting Calendar Speakers Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:21:46 -0500 Senate and House Education Committees, as well as the Secretary of Education regarding the Fordham Law School study, which found that state educational databases across the country ignore key privacy protections for the nation's school children. The study reports that at least 32% of states warehouse children's social security numbers; at least 22% of states record student pregnancies; and at least 46% of the states track mental health, illness, and jail sentences as part of the children's educational records. Some states outsource the data processing without any restrictions on use or confidentiality for children's information. Access to this information and the disclosure of personal data may occur for decades and follow children well into their adult lives. ]]> http://privacycoalition.org/2009/12/coalition_members_send_letter.php http://privacycoalition.org/2009/12/coalition_members_send_letter.php Campaigns News Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:11:44 -0500 Federal Trade Commission's Division of Privacy and Identification Protection who spoke about the agency's work to re-access the enforcement of consumer privacy protection. He also briefed the coalition on the series of round table discussions the agency plans for December 7, January 28, and March. The October meeting of the Privacy Coalition featured a briefing by Prof. Joel Reidenberg and Jamela Debelak on Children's Educational Records and Privacy. ]]> http://privacycoalition.org/2009/12/privacy_coalition_october_mont.php http://privacycoalition.org/2009/12/privacy_coalition_october_mont.php Meeting Calendar Speakers Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:57:38 -0500 House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson has responded to the Privacy Coalition Letter regarding the Chief Privacy Officer of the Department of Homeland Security. Chairman Thompson said that "the Committee is in the process of reviewing the programs outlined" in the letter, and thanked the Coalition for bringing the issues to the attention of the committee. He further stated that the Committee "will continue to examine the Department's programs and policies and vigorously address privacy concerns and issues." For more information, see ]]> http://privacycoalition.org/2009/11/congressional_committee_review.php http://privacycoalition.org/2009/11/congressional_committee_review.php Campaigns DHS News Top Issues Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:14:08 -0500 letter sent to the House Committee on Homeland Security urging them to investigate the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Chief Privacy Office. DHS is unrivaled in its authority to develop and deploy new systems of surveillance. The letter cited DHS ongoing use of Fusion Center, Whole Body Imaging, funding of CCTV Surveillance, and Suspicionless Electronic Border Searches as examples of where the agency is eroding privacy protections.]]> http://privacycoalition.org/2009/10/privacy_coalition_asks_questio.php http://privacycoalition.org/2009/10/privacy_coalition_asks_questio.php Actions Campaigns DHS News Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:57:25 -0500 introduced two bills today that would amend the PATRIOT Act and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The Patriot Amendments Act of 2009 will enhance reporting and judicial oversight of law enforcement powers, including the National Security Letter process. The FISA Amendments Act of 2009 will place new limits on the government's ability to collect and store Americans' communications without a warrant and repeals retroactive immunity. ]]> http://privacycoalition.org/2009/10/fisa_reform_bill_introduced_in.php http://privacycoalition.org/2009/10/fisa_reform_bill_introduced_in.php Legislation News Privacy Legislation Top Issues Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:46:38 -0500 Miriam Nisbet the Director of the Office of Government information Services for the National Archives spoke to the Privacy Coalition about the work of the office to provide the public with greater transparency on the work of federal government agencies. The Coalition also heard fromThomas Tamm, the former DOJ Lawyer who exposed the illegal government massive warrantless  wiretapping program on the subject of FISA reform. Tyler Moran, Policy Director, National Immigration Law Center, briefed the Coalition on proposals for E-Verify a Department of Homeland Security project to screen applicants and existing employees against government databases. There are accuracy and privacy rights issues with the current proposal. Chris Calabrese, Legislative Counsel with the ACLU discussed Biometric National ID as part of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform proposals. Digital biometric identification systems are being discussed as a way to manage access to societal benefits and services. There are accuracy, reliability, integrity, privacy, and security challenges to using biometric ID systems.]]> http://privacycoalition.org/2009/10/miriam_nisbet_discusses_govern.php http://privacycoalition.org/2009/10/miriam_nisbet_discusses_govern.php Meeting Calendar News Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:14:56 -0500 released its Privacy Report Card for the Obama Administration at a morning briefing held at the National Press Club. EPIC scored the Administration with an "Incomplete" for Consumer Privacy, A- for Medical Privacy, C+ for Civil Liberties, and a B for Cyber Security. A panel made up of Privacy Coalition member organizations representing privacy, civil liberty, consumer rights experts gave their reaction to the grades. The organizations participating in the program includedUS PIRG, Consumer Federation of America, the Liberty Coalition/Association of American Physicians and, Surgeons, and the Bill of Rights Defense Committee. In December 2008, the Privacy Coalition urged the new Administration to address growing public concerns about privacy protection.]]> http://privacycoalition.org/2009/09/privacy_coalition_on_the_obama.php http://privacycoalition.org/2009/09/privacy_coalition_on_the_obama.php Actions Events News Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:18:17 -0500 releasing the Obama Administration's Privacy Scorecard on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at the National Press Club, 8:30-10:00 am. A team of privacy experts will score the Administration's performance on a range of privacy issues, including Consumer Privacy, Medical Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Cyber Security. The public is invited to grade the Administration's privacy work. To confirm attendance at the event rsvp@epic.org. ]]> http://privacycoalition.org/2009/09/obama_administration_privacy_s.php http://privacycoalition.org/2009/09/obama_administration_privacy_s.php Actions Events News Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:01:04 -0500 urging Internet users to tell Google to adopt privacy protections for the Google Book Search. A judge in New York will determine later this year whether to approve the proposed settlement that would establish the service and give Google access to detailed personal information without any privacy safeguards. The settlement would also allow the collection of revenue by parties that are not the writers or owners of "orphaned" works. For more information, see EPIC Google Books Settlement and Privacy. ]]> http://privacycoalition.org/2009/08/privacy_campaign_on_google_boo.php http://privacycoalition.org/2009/08/privacy_campaign_on_google_boo.php Actions Campaigns News Top Issues Sun, 02 Aug 2009 10:01:06 -0500 Department of Justice (DOJ) Chief Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer, (CPCLO) as well as the Department's senior policy adviser on privacy and civil liberties issues related to counterterrorism. Ms. Libin also advises the Attorney General on issues of privacy policy related to the Department's compliance with privacy laws and regulations. The CPCLO periodically reviews and investigates the Department's activities to ensure the DOJ is adequately considering privacy and civil liberties. In carrying out these responsibilities the CPCLO works, collaboratively with Department components and Bureaus such as the Office of Legislative Affairs and the Office of Legal Policy the Criminal Division National Security Division, and the FBI. Ms. Libin spoke to the Privacy Coalition at its monthly meeting in July.]]> http://privacycoalition.org/2009/08/nancy_libin_dojs_cpclo_meets_w.php http://privacycoalition.org/2009/08/nancy_libin_dojs_cpclo_meets_w.php Meeting Calendar News Speakers Sun, 02 Aug 2009 09:57:33 -0500 David Vladeck, Director of the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protect met with the Privacy Coalition for it June 2009 meeting. The FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection's mandate is to protect consumers against unfair, deceptive or fraudulent practices. The Bureau enforces a variety of consumer protection laws enacted by Congress, as well as trade regulation rules issued by the FTC. The meeting also included a briefing by Professional Staff with the Homeland Security Committee on the recently introduced PASS ID bill. http://privacycoalition.org/2009/07/david_vladeck_director_of_the.php http://privacycoalition.org/2009/07/david_vladeck_director_of_the.php Meeting Calendar News Speakers Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:24:54 -0500