Privacy advocates, after some such groups exited NTIA's facial identification multistakeholder privacy meetings, showed up as expected (see 1506180020) at the agency's first gathering on drone privacy. But some warned that the drone endeavor may face similar challenges to facial ID, where privacy advocates backed out because they wanted opt-in requirements (see 1507310044). The Center for Democracy & Technology, participating in the drone talks, was among the advocates that backed out of the facial ID process.

Facial recognition has many uses, but the technology is predominantly used in the U.S. to identify characteristics such as age or gender to tailor digital advertising, and federal privacy law should be adapted to reflect new technologies, said a report from the GAO Thursday. Privacy advocacy organizations and government agencies have cited privacy concerns about the commercial use of facial recognition technology, saying if the technology’s use were widespread, companies could identify almost anyone in public and track people’s locations, movements and companions, without an individual’s knowledge or consent, GAO said. How the collected information is used, shared or sold is also a concern, it said. Some stakeholders argue individuals shouldn't expect complete anonymity in public, and privacy losses are offset by benefits the technology offers consumers and businesses, GAO said. No law fully addresses the privacy concerns raised by facial recognition technology, it said. Some laws, like the FTC Act, may apply in certain contexts, but “gaps exist in the consumer privacy framework,” GAO said. Congress should consider strengthening the consumer privacy framework to reflect changes in technology and the marketplace and current privacy framework in commercial settings warrants reconsideration, GAO said. In response to the GAO’s report , Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., who requested the GAO report last year, said in a news release Thursday more action is needed to protect the privacy of American consumers. “Facial recognition tracks you in the real world -- from cameras stationed on street corners and in shopping centers, and through photographs taken by friends and strangers alike,” Franken said. The GAO report “raises serious concerns about how companies are collecting, using, and storing our most sensitive personal information,” he said. “I believe that all Americans have a fundamental right to privacy, which is why it’s important that, at the very least, the tech industry adopts strong, industry-wide standards for facial recognition technology,” Franken said. “But what we really need are federal standards that address facial recognition privacy by enhancing our consumer privacy framework.”

Facial recognition has many uses, but the technology is predominantly used in the U.S. to identify characteristics such as age or gender to tailor digital advertising, and federal privacy law should be adapted to reflect new technologies, said a report from the GAO Thursday. Privacy advocacy organizations and government agencies have cited privacy concerns about the commercial use of facial recognition technology, saying if the technology’s use were widespread, companies could identify almost anyone in public and track people’s locations, movements and companions, without an individual’s knowledge or consent, GAO said. How the collected information is used, shared or sold is also a concern, it said. Some stakeholders argue individuals shouldn't expect complete anonymity in public, and privacy losses are offset by benefits the technology offers consumers and businesses, GAO said. No law fully addresses the privacy concerns raised by facial recognition technology, it said. Some laws, like the FTC Act, may apply in certain contexts, but “gaps exist in the consumer privacy framework,” GAO said. Congress should consider strengthening the consumer privacy framework to reflect changes in technology and the marketplace and current privacy framework in commercial settings warrants reconsideration, GAO said. In response to the GAO’s report , Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., who requested the GAO report last year, said in a news release Thursday more action is needed to protect the privacy of American consumers. “Facial recognition tracks you in the real world -- from cameras stationed on street corners and in shopping centers, and through photographs taken by friends and strangers alike,” Franken said. The GAO report “raises serious concerns about how companies are collecting, using, and storing our most sensitive personal information,” he said. “I believe that all Americans have a fundamental right to privacy, which is why it’s important that, at the very least, the tech industry adopts strong, industry-wide standards for facial recognition technology,” Franken said. “But what we really need are federal standards that address facial recognition privacy by enhancing our consumer privacy framework.”

Satellite operators increasingly are considering orbital debris issues due to the rapidly growing number of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites planned for launch in coming years. Debris "has not raised alarm bells quite yet, but the trend [of increased LEO traffic] is only going to increase," Tim Taylor, Globalstar vice president-finance, business operations and strategy, told us. "[Debris] is something we are keeping an eye on."

The Communications Workers of America launched ads slamming Verizon’s alleged failure to develop FiOS broadband. The ads were released after rallies Saturday to reject Verizon’s demands to eliminate job security, slash pensions and increase healthcare costs, said CWA. To counter the negative press about the FiOS rollout and contract negotiations, Verizon has been running ads touting the company as a great place to work. A Verizon spokesman said union leaders are “flat-out wrong” in their criticism of the FiOS rollout.

Automotive and technology trade association leaders backed allocating more government spectrum for IoT purposes and for Congress to exercise restraint in drafting or passing legislation on the enforcement of privacy restrictions, in testimony before the House Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Wednesday. The four witnesses agreed there should be a national consensus on what information collected or monitored by IoT devices should and shouldn't be protected and that companies should give notice of the sharing of any information, and that the FTC is providing sufficient oversight in this area by working on a case-by-case basis, so congressional intervention isn't immediately needed.

The Communications Workers of America launched ads slamming Verizon’s alleged failure to develop FiOS broadband. The ads were released after rallies Saturday to reject Verizon’s demands to eliminate job security, slash pensions and increase healthcare costs, said CWA. To counter the negative press about the FiOS rollout and contract negotiations, Verizon has been running ads touting the company as a great place to work. A Verizon spokesman said union leaders are “flat-out wrong” in their criticism of the FiOS rollout.

Automotive and technology trade association leaders backed allocating more government spectrum for IoT purposes and for Congress to exercise restraint in drafting or passing legislation on the enforcement of privacy restrictions, in testimony before the House Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Wednesday. The four witnesses agreed there should be a national consensus on what information collected or monitored by IoT devices should and shouldn't be protected and that companies should give notice of the sharing of any information, and that the FTC is providing sufficient oversight in this area by working on a case-by-case basis, so congressional intervention isn't immediately needed.

Several members of the Senate Commerce Committee expressed willingness to consider and saw a need for spectrum legislation in the months ahead, they said during a Wednesday hearing. CTIA President Meredith Baker and FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel lauded several of the spectrum bills already introduced in the committee, and Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., sketched out a plan of future hearings and a greater legislative package.

Several members of the Senate Commerce Committee expressed willingness to consider and saw a need for spectrum legislation in the months ahead, they said during a Wednesday hearing. CTIA President Meredith Baker and FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel lauded several of the spectrum bills already introduced in the committee, and Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., sketched out a plan of future hearings and a greater legislative package.