The Secure Times

On February 24, 2010, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection and Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet will hold a joint hearing on the collection and use of location information for commercial purposes.  This joint hearing is the third on privacy held by these two subcommittees this Congress.  A joint hearing was held in June 2009 to learn about online behavioral advertising practices and to consider whether federal privacy legislation is necessary to address concerns associated with these practices.  A second hearing was held in November 2009 on the online and offline collection and commercial use of consumer information.

The scheduled witnesses for Wednesday’s hearing are:

Lorrie Cranor

Associate Professor

Computer Science and Engineering & Public Policy

Carnegie Mellon University

 

Mike Altschul

Senior Vice President and General Counsel

CTIA – The Wireless Association

 

John B. Morris, Jr.

General Counsel

Center for Democracy and Technology

 

Anne Collier

Connect Safely

 

Jerry King

Chief Operating Officer
uLocate Communications, Inc.

 

Tony Bernard
VP/GM
Useful Networks

These hearings are being held in preparation for introducing privacy legislation.  Rep. Boucher (D-VA), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet, has stated that he intends to introduce a bill to regulate online collection and use of consumer information.  Privacy legislation is expected soon.