Your research can help the FTC protect consumers
By: Lorrie Cranor | Jan 17, 2017 10:35AM
Over the past year, I have spoken to a large number of researchers at conferences (see for example my keynote presentation at SOUPS 2016) and in my visits to universities, and I have talked with them about the FTC’s mission to improve the welfare of US consumers. Many researchers have asked me how they can help.
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Cross-Device Tracking: Measurement and Disclosures
By: Aaron Alva | Jan 5, 2017 9:28AM
We are pleased to announce that OTech’s research on cross device tracking has been accepted for publication in the Proceedings on Privacy Enhancing Technologies, and is available online now. This paper stems from research OTech presented at the FTC Cross-Device Tracking workshop, and OTech continues to be interested in this emerging area.
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New Workshop on Technology and Consumer Protection
By: Joseph Calandrino | Dec 21, 2016 10:54AM
Earlier this year, I joined the FTC as the Research Director of our Office of Technology Research and Investigation. As a computer science PhD, the opportunity to conduct research relevant to consumer protection has been an immensely satisfying experience, so I wanted to share an opportunity for other computer scientists to do the same.
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Meet Organizations Supporting Privacy Research at the FTC
By: Lorrie Cranor | Dec 15, 2016 1:30PM
With the FTC’s 2017 PrivacyCon event on January 12 and various other privacy-related events in the area that week, Washington, DC will see an influx of Privacy Researchers in early January. Given this short-term wealth of privacy experts, we’re taking the opportunity to host a pre-PrivacyCon networking event on January 11, 2:30 to 4:30 pm.
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DMCA security research exemption for consumer devices
By: Aaron Alva | Oct 28, 2016 2:12PM
With the stroke of a pen, the Librarian of Congress has authorized security researchers who are acting in good faith to conduct controlled research on consumer devices so long as the research does not violate other laws such as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). This temporary exemption to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) begins today. The new temporary exemption is a big win for security researchers and for consumers who will benefit from increased security testing of the products they use.
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By: Lorrie Cranor, FTC Chief Technologist | Aug 1, 2016 5:18PM
In order to protect consumers in our tech economy, we could use the help of some smart and creative technologists. That’s why I’m headed to Las Vegas this week with members of the Office of Technology Research and Investigation and other FTC folks to attend BSidesLV and DEF CON. We want to learn from security and privacy researchers and let them know about our research interests.
Privacy Day, internships, and a shout out to computer scientists
By: Lorrie Cranor, Chief Technologist | Feb 1, 2016 4:01PM
This year I celebrated Data Privacy Day on January 28 by attending the Privacy Day events at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). It was a great opportunity for people to talk about privacy issues, hear about privacy research, and learn about some steps they can take to protect their privacy.
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Some key takeaways from PrivacyCon
By: Lorrie Cranor, Chief Technologist | Jan 22, 2016 11:19AM
We had a great turnout both in person and online for the FTC PrivacyCon event last week. About 400 people attended in person and over 1,500 people streamed the video online. I enjoyed the opportunity to talk in person with a large number of participants.
Booting up a new research office at the FTC
By: Ashkan Soltani, Chief Technologist | Mar 23, 2015 11:00AM
Calling all Technologists! The FTC has job opportunities available in its newly formed Office of Technology Research and Investigation (OTRI), an office designed to expand the FTC’s capacity to protect consumers in an age of rapid technological innovation.
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