The FTC has announced a preliminary agenda for a program it calls "The Big Picture: Comprehensive Data Collection." This workshop "will explore the practices and privacy implications of comprehensive data collection."
The program will be held in Washington, DC, on Dec. 6, 2012, and is free and open to the public.
The workshop will be webcast live and a link will be available on FTC.gov. FTC staff will live-tweet the day-long event using the hashtag #FTCpriv from the agency's @FTC account.
The preliminary program agenda is as follows:
9:00-9:15am ET Opening Remarks: Commissioner Julie Brill, Federal Trade Commission
9:15-10:00am The Technological Landscape of Comprehensive Data
Collection
In this presentation, Professor Dan Wallach, Rice University, will
explain the current technological means through which
consumers' online activities can be collected and the limits to
that technology. He will explore which types of entities have the
ability to collect data about consumers' online activities in
order to create comprehensive profiles. He will also describe
current and possible future uses for such profiles.
10:00-10:15am Break
10:15am-12:00pm Benefits and Risks of Comprehensive Data
Collection
This panel will explore both the benefits to consumers from the
technologies that allow comprehensive data collection as well as
the various privacy concerns associated with the ability to track
all, or virtually all, of a consumer's online activities. The
panel will discuss the products and services these technologies
create or enable; the types of information that can be collected
and how that information is used; and the associated benefits and
privacy risks.
12:00-1:30pm Lunch
1:30-1:45pm Remarks, Commissioner Maureen K. Ohlhausen, Federal Trade Commission
1:45-3:00pm Consumer Attitudes About and Choice with Respect to
Comprehensive Data Collection
This panel will examine consumer attitudes and knowledge about
comprehensive data collection and the role of consumer choice and
transparency. Panelists will discuss what consumers know about the
comprehensive data collection that can or does occur; what
consumers should be told about such collection; what choices
consumers should have about such collection; and whether there are
competitive alternatives in order to make choices meaningful.
3:00-3:15pm Break
3:15-4:30pm The Future of Comprehensive Data Collection
This panel will focus on potential next steps for industry and
policy makers in the area of comprehensive data collection. In
particular, panelists will discuss what standards should apply to
comprehensive data collection and whether the market can provide
alternatives for consumers who wish to avoid such collection.
4:30-4:45pm Closing Remarks
The workshop will be held at the FTC's satellite building conference center, 601 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.
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