Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, CONSUMER PROTECTION NEWS: FTC seeks public comment on issues raised at Internet of Things workshop, (Dec 11, 2013)

The FTC is seeking public comment on the issues raised at its workshop exploring consumer privacy and security issues posed from the growing connectivity of mobile and other devices.

The workshop, entitled “The Internet of Things,” was h ...

The FTC is seeking public comment on the issues raised at its workshop exploring consumer privacy and security issues posed from the growing connectivity of mobile and other devices.

The workshop, entitled “The Internet of Things,” was held on November 19 and focused on privacy and security issues relating to the increased connectivity for consumers through smart home appliances, health and fitness devices, personal devices, and cars. The workshop brought together academics, business and industry representatives, and consumer advocates to explore the privacy and security issues in the increasingly connected world. The workshop agenda, speakers’ bios, and an archived video are available here.

To further its understanding of the issues, the FTC staff seeks public comment on the issues raised at the workshop, including

How can consumers benefit from the Internet of Things?
What are the unique privacy and security concerns and solutions associated with the Internet of Things?
What existing security technologies and practices could businesses and consumers use to enhance privacy and security in the Internet of Things?
What is the role of the Fair Information Practice Principles in the Internet of Things?
What steps can companies take, before putting a product or service on the market, to prevent connected devices from becoming targets of, or vectors for, malware and adware?
How can companies provide effective notice and choice? If there are circumstances where effective notice and choice are not possible, what solutions are available to protect consumers?
What new challenges does constant, passive data-collection pose?
What effect does the Internet of Things have on data de-identification or anomymization?
How can privacy and security risks be weighed against potential societal benefits, such as improved health care decision-making or energy efficiency, for consumers and businesses?
How can companies update device software for security purposes or patch security vulnerabilities in connected devices, particularly if they do not have an ongoing relationship with the consumer? Do companies have adequate incentives to provide updates or patches over products’ lifecycles?
How should the FTC encourage innovation in this area while protecting consumers’ privacy and the security of their data?
Are new use-restrictions necessary to protect consumers’ privacy?
How could shifting social norms be taken into account?
How can consumers learn more about the security and privacy of specific products or services?
How can consumers or researchers with insight into vulnerabilities best reach companies?

Public comments may be submitted until January 10, 2014. Written comments can be mailed to: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-113 (Annex X), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. If you file your comment on paper, write “Internet of Things, Project No. P135405” both on the comment and on the envelope. Comments may also be submitted electronically.

News: ConsumerProtection Privacy FederalTradeCommissionNews

Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, CONSUMER PROTECTION NEWS: FTC seeks public comment on issues raised at Internet of Things workshop, (Dec 11, 2013)

The FTC is seeking public comment on the issues raised at its workshop exploring consumer privacy and security issues posed from the growing connectivity of mobile and other devices.

The workshop, entitled “The Internet of Things,” was h ...

The FTC is seeking public comment on the issues raised at its workshop exploring consumer privacy and security issues posed from the growing connectivity of mobile and other devices.

To further its understanding of the issues, the FTC staff seeks public comment on the issues raised at the workshop, including

How can consumers benefit from the Internet of Things?
What are the unique privacy and security concerns and solutions associated with the Internet of Things?
What existing security technologies and practices could businesses and consumers use to enhance privacy and security in the Internet of Things?
What is the role of the Fair Information Practice Principles in the Internet of Things?
What steps can companies take, before putting a product or service on the market, to prevent connected devices from becoming targets of, or vectors for, malware and adware?
How can companies provide effective notice and choice? If there are circumstances where effective notice and choice are not possible, what solutions are available to protect consumers?
What new challenges does constant, passive data-collection pose?
What effect does the Internet of Things have on data de-identification or anomymization?
How can privacy and security risks be weighed against potential societal benefits, such as improved health care decision-making or energy efficiency, for consumers and businesses?
How can companies update device software for security purposes or patch security vulnerabilities in connected devices, particularly if they do not have an ongoing relationship with the consumer? Do companies have adequate incentives to provide updates or patches over products’ lifecycles?
How should the FTC encourage innovation in this area while protecting consumers’ privacy and the security of their data?
Are new use-restrictions necessary to protect consumers’ privacy?
How could shifting social norms be taken into account?
How can consumers learn more about the security and privacy of specific products or services?
How can consumers or researchers with insight into vulnerabilities best reach companies?

News: ConsumerProtection Privacy FederalTradeCommissionNews