President Pushes Consumer Privacy Forward
The President announced that he will move forward the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, a model framework for federal consumer privacy legislation.
Privacy Legislation Archives
President to Propose Legislation to Safeguard Student Data
The President will propose legislation to safeguard student data, to "ensure that data collected in the educational context is used only for educational purposes." The Student Digital Privacy Act, based on a landmark California statute, will prohibit companies from selling data for non-educational purposes and from using data for targeted advertising.
September 30 Privacy Coalition Meeting -- Privacy and Biometrics from ATR to IDs
Peter Pietra, Chief Privacy Officer for the briefed the Privacy Coalition on changes made to millimeter wave Automated Target Recognition (whole body scanning) technology to address privacy and screening of air passenger. There are two forms of ATR the other is known as Backscatter x-ray, which does not have the features described by recent changes. The agency continues to work with Privacy Coalition members with constituencies, which are impacted by the deployment of the technology. Other challenges regarding the deployment of the technology include litigation by the Electronic Privacy Information Center. The Coalition also received a briefing on proposed changes to update the Federal Privacy Act from Evan Cash, Professional Staff Member with the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia he is staffer to Senator Daniel K. Akaka, Chairman, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. We also received a tutorial from Joy Kasaaian, International Biometrics Group, on the Science and Technology of Biometrics Identity.
FISA Reform Bill Introduced in the House
Representatives Conyers, Nadler, and Scott 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.
Ruchi Bhowmik with Senator Obama's Staff Briefed the Privacy Coalition on new Deceptive Campaign Practices Legislation
Ruchi Bhowmik, Professional Staff person, with Senator Obama's office met with the Privacy Coalition at the March 2007 monthly meeting to brief the group on a new bill to address deceptive campaign practices.
House Votes to Halt Digital Strip Searches
The House of Representatives approved by a vote of 310 to 118 a bill that will limit the use of Whole-Body Imaging machines, installed by the Transportation
Security Administration, in US airports. The devices photograph American air travelers stripped naked and could easily be programmed to record images. Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) sponsored the bill that will prohibit the use of the devices as the sole or primary method of screening aircraft passengers; require that passengers be provided information on the operation of such technology and offered a pat-down search in lieu of such screening; and prohibit the storage of an image of a passenger after a boarding determination is made. Privacy Coalition members supported a campaign to raise public awareness about Whole Body Imaging.
Coalition Sets Out Framework for Effective ID Theft Legislation
A coalition of privacy and consumer advocacy groups have set out a framework for effective legislation to address the growing problem of identity theft. The groups recommend strong notification requirements, better consumer control over personal information, limits on the use of the SSN, regulation of commercial data brokers, and protection for good state privacy initiatives. The annual cost of identity theft exceeds $50 billion.
[More on Regulation of Commercial Data brokers]