2012 State of the Mobile Net: Complex Devices / Complex Privacy Questions
Channel: Congressional Internet Caucus Academy
Date: 2012-05-07

2012 State of the Mobile Net Conference
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Reserve Officers Association on Capitol Hill

Complex Devices / Complex Privacy Questions: Grappling With Privacy In the Mobile Space

"Privacy" is a difficult notion to grapple with on a good day. But triangulating what privacy means in the mobile space is particularly challenging -- a space that is evolving rapidly. Traditional privacy practices are finding their way to the mobile space. Recently the White House, the Federal Trade Commission and California attorney general have initiated processes to ensure more privacy transparency and accountability by platform providers. Yet, other developments -- like Carrier IQ to Path to apps like Girls Around Me -- are more challenging. Policymakers and users are grappling with fundamental questions about what privacy means in the mobile space. Should mobile devices and services be treated differently than other platforms like computers and landline phones? Do the awe-inspiring benefits of personal-data-enhanced mobile services -- from location-based services to social networking apps -- simply outweigh any of our reservations about privacy? What are the rules for app developers and platform providers when making context-relative data decisions? And, what do we do with that intangible sense that an app or service is just plain "creepy" or "freaky." Our panel is up to the task of debating those questions.

- Sarah Hudgins, Public Policy Director, Interactive Advertising Bureau
- Todd Moore, Founder, TMSOFT
- Patricia Poss, Chief, Bureau of Consumer Protection Mobile Technology Unit, Federal Trade Commission
- Ashkan Soltani, Independent Researcher and Consultant
- Tim Lordan, Executive Director, Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Commitee (Moderator)