What's Current in Privacy?

By Tracy Mitrano. The last two blogs were about what should be done. This one is about some progressive initiatives. In terms of national policy, the Snowden disclosures have re-opened an important conversation about electronic surveillance laws.  We are all in charge of keeping that conversation going to the very least conclusion of updating privacy laws such as the Family Education Rights Privacy Act, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986; the Electronic Communications Privacy Act also of 1986; the U.S.A.-Patriot Act of 2001 and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, originally of 1978, updated in 2008, but evidently in need of further revision to balance civil rights and national security. Under the heading of consumer privacy, President Obama commissioned a study a couple of years ago that compiled a consumer Bill of Rights.  Recently, he pushed the issue further by asking John Podesta to explore more carefully “big data” consumer issues. Read more...