Last month the California legislature hastily passed sweeping privacy regulations to stave off even more sweeping rules that would have emerged from the state’s ballot initiative process. These regulations from the state of California, which is the world’s 5th largest economy and home to the most dominant data companies on the planet, will apply to a huge swath of data on the Internet, and offline as well. These rules follow the massive European privacy law, the GDPR, which started its enforcement period just a month earlier.
With consumer privacy breaches and Congressional privacy hearings in the headlines daily, many are asking whether Congress will act on data privacy? Will more US states follow California’s lead and pass consumer privacy laws as well?
This was hosted on Thursday July 26th in the Rayburn HOB as a popup briefing on the California Consumer Privacy Act, GDPR, and the potential for future Congressional action on this issue.
Description: The predecessor to the Privacy Shield was the EU-US Safe Harbor, which was invalidated by a European Court back in October over surveillance concerns (watch prior event here). That court ruling triggered widespread concern over the effect on Internet businesses in the U.S.
Our event features officials from the European Commission and from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the entities that negotiated the EU-US Privacy Shield.
Speakers
Andrea Glorioso, Eu Delegation to the US, Counselor: Digital Agenda & ICT (Bio)
Ted Dean, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services, U.S. Department of Commerce (Bio)
Details:
In just ten years, the commercial drone sector is projected to become a multi-billion-dollar industry, creating thousands of jobs and putting over 80,000 new vehicles in the air. These Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have extended the Internet to the skies, bridging the gap between atoms and bits and promising to bring connectivity to remote corners of the world.
From expanding Internet access for rural populations to rapid delivery services, precision farming, and search-and-rescue operations, the commercial possibilities of Internet-enabled UAV are endless. Drones promise to revolutionize traditional industries across the world.
Some of the biggest Internet companies are looking skyward, but commercial drone use in the United States is currently hindered by privacy and safety concerns that have often forced companies to move testing and business overseas. The FAA, NASA, and industry are working on standards and regulations to allow commercial drone companies to operate legally and safely in the United States. This briefing will address the breadth of potential uses for commercial drones in an interconnected world and sketch out the policy landscape of Internet-enabled UAVs.
Later in the day, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will start a “multistakeholder process” aimed at developing privacy best practices for the commercial and private use of unmanned aircraft systems.
Speakers:
Michael Drobac, Executive Director, Small UAV Coalition (Bio)
Lisa Ellman, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Practice Group, Hogan Lovells (Bio)
On June 1, 2015 a set of key provisions of the PATRIOT Act will expire unless Congress reauthorizes them. The provisions due to sunset without Congressional reauthorization have become extremely controversial in the wake of the revelations by NSA leaker Edward Snowden. The PATRIOT Act serves as the basis the most controversial government program — the NSA’s “bulk collection program.” Civil liberties advocates and some Internet industry coalitions have called on Congress and the President either to let these provisions expire or to make substantial changes in the law that “maintain national security while preserving privacy, transparency, and accountability.”
There will be a great deal of public scrutiny on the Congressional decision and on each Members’ vote. We invite you to a debate on what is at stake in the reauthorization or in the revision of the PATRIOT Act.
Renowned Washington Post national security journalist Ellen Nakashima moderated our expert panel that includes the general counsel of the Director of National Security as well as civil liberties advocates and industry representatives. We hope you will avail yourself of this opportunity to participate in a debate on this important issue.
Speakers:
Chris Calabrese, Senior Policy Director, Center for Democracy & Technology
Jessica Herrera-Flanigan, Reform Government Surveillance
Neema Singh Guliani, Legislative Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union,
Robert S. Litt, General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Ellen Nakashima, National Security Reporter, The Washington Post (Moderator)
President Obama has made the public-private sharing of threat information one of the most pressing priorities in his massive push to protect the nation’s cyber infrastructure. In February at the Cyber Security Summit, the President signed an executive order to promote better sharing of threat information, “both within the private sector and between government and the private sector.” As part of that strategy, he has called upon Congress to pass legislation to increase the flow of threat information.
Yet, Congress has attempted to pass such legislation before and was met with vigorous opposition. Almost two years ago the “Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA)” met an abrupt end amid civil liberties, privacy, and surveillance concerns — and that was before the NSA revelations by Edward Snowden.
Now the President and Congress are back with new legislation to protect cyber systems via information sharing. Bills are being prepared and you are likely to see Congress vote on it shortly. Our panel of experts will explore the issues related to information sharing, whether the approach will secure the homeland and whether the legislation puts civil liberties and privacy at risk.
Speakers:
Cory Bennett, Cyber Security Reporter, The Hill (Moderator)
Robyn Greene, Policy Counsel, Open Technology Institute at New America
Dena Graziano, Director, Federal Government Affairs, Symantec
Heather Molino, Cornerstone Government Affairs (former Minority Staff Director for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence)
Cyber Security: Will The Sharing of Threat Information Secure The Homeland or Erode Privacy?
We’ve just announced our speakers for the Friday luncheon (see below). The cyber security panel will discuss legislation that will allow the sharing of threat information and attacks. Bills on this issue will be first out of the gate this session of Congress. Get up to speed on how effectively the legislation helps secure the Internet and whether it infringes on the privacy of your constituents.
Speakers:
Cory Bennett, Cyber Security Reporter, The Hill (Moderator) (Bio)
Robyn Greene, Policy Counsel, Open Technology Institute at New America (Bio)
Cheri McGuire, Vice President, Global Government Affairs & Cybersecurity Policy, Symantec (Bio)
Heather Molino, Cornerstone Government Affairs (Bio)
Attend: RSVP via Eventbrite here Note: This is a fast-paced, recess 60-minute flash-luncheon briefing format Date: Friday, April 10, 2015 Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. Program starts at 12:00 pm, check-in starts at 11:40 am Location Rayburn House Office Building Room 2226 Lunch: A boxed lunch will be served. Follow:@NetCaucusAC | #CISA
Background
President Obama has made the public-private sharing of threat information one of the most pressing priorities in his massive push to protect the nation’s cyber infrastructure. Last month at the Cyber Security Summit the President signed an executive order to promote better sharing of threat information, “both within the private sector and between government and the private sector.” As part of that strategy he has called upon Congress to pass legislation to increase the flow of threat information.
Yet, Congress has attempted to pass such legislation before and was met with vigorous opposition. Almost two years ago the “Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA)” met an abrupt end amid civil liberties, privacy, and surveillance concerns- and that was before the NSA revelations by leaker Edward Snowden.
Now the President and Congress are back with new legislation to protect cyber systems via information sharing. Bills are being prepared and you are likely to see Congress vote on it shortly. Our panel of experts will explore the issues related to information sharing, whether the approach will secure the homeland and whether the legislation puts civil liberties and privacy at risk.
This widely attended educational briefing is hosted by the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee (ICAC), part of a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. Congressional staff and members of the press welcome. The ICAC is a private sector organization comprised of public interest groups, trade associations, non-profits, and corporations. The ICAC takes no positions on legislation or regulation. Rather, it’s a neutral platform where thought leaders debate important technology issues that shape legislative and administration policy in an open forum. We vigilantly adhere to our mission to curate balanced and dynamic debates among Internet stakeholders. Our volunteer board members ensure that we dutifully execute that mission. More information on the ICAC is available at www.netcaucus.org.
Last Monday’s Congressional briefing on the sharing economy capped off our most productive and influential year in the 18 years since the inception of the Congressional Internet Caucus (and we said that in 2013)! We have detailed below the remarkable breadth, timeliness, and impact of Internet policy briefings and events hosted by the NetCaucus AC in 2014. Here is a summary of this remarkable accomplishment.
2014 Highlights
At the end of 2014 we have hosted 60% more programs than 2013 for a total of 16 events. This rivals the number of hearings that some committees hold. All of our events have been listed below and can be viewed on our events page here.
Video and C-SPAN Coverage:
Remarkably nearly 50% of our 2014 Congressional briefings have yielded C-SPAN coverage. That coverage exponentially increases our viewing audience not only within the Capitol Complex but also across America. The amount of C-SPAN coverage is a testament to the credibility and the content of our program (here is an example). Also, together with C-SPAN coverage we have been able to webcast over 50% of our events this year.
24 Hours / 48 Hours / 75 Hours – Breaking News Briefings
In 2014, we achieved an unprecedented level of timeliness in our Congressional briefings. For instance, we hosted a briefing within 75 hours of the DC Circuit Court’s decision to strike down much of the FCC’s Open Internet Rules. Within 48 hours, we hosted a briefing on the Supreme Court’s Aereo decision. We also hosted a briefing within 24 hours of the FCC releasing its proposed Net Neutrality rules and its Spectrum order.
Packed Attendance
Our events are extremely well attended by our target audience – Congressional and government policy staff. On Twitter, you can find photos of our event audiences and lively event hashtag conversations.
Revived Speakers Series
This year we revived the historically successful Internet Caucus Speakers Series. That program, which provided an open forum within the Capitol Complex for executives and luminaries, was halted in 2007. In 2014 we hosted two terrific speakers — famous Internet researcher danah boyd and Zillow.com CEO Spencer Rascoff. Both presentations were extremely successful and we would like to further revive this program in 2015.
[thaudio href=”http://netcaucus.org/audio/2014/20141208p2peconomy.mp3″]Listen to Audio[/thaudio]
Audio of today’s panel on regulation and the future of the sharing economy is now available. You can also subscribe to our Podcast for all of our latest panel discussions and find more pictures from the event on our Flickr. Thank you to our panelists and all in attendance for today’s event!
Companies like Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb are high profile examples of the so-called sharing economy, in which ordinary people use online platforms to rent (rather than sell) products and services to each other. Also known as collaborative consumption, or peer to peer commerce, this new way of doing business uses the Internet to connect individual sellers and consumers and is changing the economy in many ways. Despite the successes of sharing economy pioneers, there is a growing backlash about circumvention of regulations and community standards, and displacement of workers – such as taxi drivers – in established industries. These debates are important because we might only be in the early stages of the sharing economy. In the future, a large number of industries could be disrupted by these new business models.
In May, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that Google and other search engines must consider requests by any EU citizen to delete information about them, under a policy known as “the right to be forgotten.” Google alone has processed more than 90,000 take down requests since May. Europe’s new privacy right clashes with other deeply held values such as freedom of expression and transparency. Many observers are concerned that the EU’s approach could even affect American Internet users. EU privacy regulators have suggested that the search engines must delete results not only within the EU, but globally, in spite of our First Amendment rights to publish and view the information. Even HBO comedian John Oliver has added to the commentary, suggesting the hashtag #mutuallyassuredhumiliation to highlight the futility of removing embarrassing information from the Internet, and to suggest a more realistic approach for our modern society. When an Internet policy issue makes it to TV comedy shows, its a sign that we need to pay attention here in Washington.
Is the right to be forgotten necessary to protect privacy, or does the EU rule go too far? Should the EU be able to limit access to information by American Internet users? Can the right to be forgotten be reconciled with the watchdog role of the press when public figures can use the new procedures to censor potentially embarrassing information? Join us as we discuss these interesting topics.
This widely attended educational briefing is hosted by the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee (ICAC), part of a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. Congressional staff and members of the press welcome. The ICAC is a private sector organization comprised of public interest groups, trade associations, non-profits, and corporations. The ICAC takes no positions on legislation or regulation. Rather, it’s a neutral platform where thought leaders debate important technology issues that shape legislative and administration policy in an open forum. We vigilantly adhere to our mission to curate balanced and dynamic debates among Internet stakeholders. Our volunteer board members ensure that we dutifully execute that mission. More information on the ICAC is available at www.netcaucus.org.
For your convenience we have included links to the audio of those events. These podcasts can be easily accessed from your desktop or mobile device. They are really worth a listen
