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Industry representatives and regulators gathered at the IAPP Global Privacy Summit to delve into the complexities of privacy and child online safety legislation. Keir Lamont, Director for US Legislation at the Future of Privacy Forum, emphasized the intricate nature of comprehensive privacy legislation, stating, "Comprehensive privacy legislation is much more complicated than merely who is notified and in what order after consumers suffer a data breach."Caitriona Fitzgerald, Deputy Director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, highlighted the challenges of...

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have announced an extension to the public comment period for their joint Request for Information (RFI). The RFI seeks to understand how group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and drug wholesalers contribute to generic drug shortages. The deadline has been extended to May 30, 2024.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has lifted restrictions that previously prevented the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) from investigating potential anticompetitive behavior by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). This decision reinforces the DOJ's authority to scrutinize NAR's Participation Rule and Clear Cooperation Policy in an effort to safeguard competition.

The United States and the United Kingdom have embarked on a collaborative venture focusing on the Science of AI Safety. This partnership will see the two nations' Safety Institutes joining forces to conduct research, safety evaluations, and provide guidance for AI safety within their respective countries.

The United States Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) jointly announced a $4 billion tax credit allocation under the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Tax Credit (48C). With over 100 projects in its purview, this initiative is aimed at propelling domestic clean energy manufacturing and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in industrial settings.

Forge Industrial Staffing, a Michigan-based temporary employment agency, has filed objections to a magistrate judge's recommendation in a subpoena dispute case between the company and the U.S. Department of Labor. The department issued the subpoenas in its investigation into child labor allegations.

Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), recently convened a roundtable discussion with leaders of corn masa flour (CMF) products. The goal was to stimulate the production of folic acid-infused food products. Representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf, were also present.

Captain Valerie Littlejohn, Public Information Officer for the Oklahoma City Police Department, this week told Federal Newswire that cartels are transporting narcotics in and through Oklahoma City. They also facilitate human trafficking activities and use individuals as workers to pay off debts to the cartels, she said. Littlejohn shared the information with Federal Newswire on April 2.

Shoals Technologies Group, a provider of Electrical Balance of Systems (EBOS) solutions, has been inducted into the board of directors of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). The company's CEO, Brandon Moss, will represent Shoals on the board.

Commissioner Caroline D. Pham has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Belva Lockwood Award by The George Washington University Law School and Law Association for Women. The prestigious award will be presented to Commissioner Pham at The George Washington University’s Belva Lockwood Society Award Luncheon.The event is scheduled to take place on Friday, April 5, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. (EDT) at The George Washington University Law School FCC (5th Floor) located at 716 20th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20052. Additional information about the event can be found on The Belva...

Civil liberties groups are making strong demands as they push for changes to an anti-terror surveillance law. A coalition of 32 groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, FreedomWorks, and the Electronic Privacy Information Center, has issued a warning to House leaders regarding the upcoming debate on the renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and its Section 702.The coalition, as reported by HuffPost, has emphasized the importance of allowing votes on warrantless database searches and the government's utilization of private data brokers...

Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) has voiced its opposition to a proposed bill in Vermont that could impact online privacy and data security.The bill in question, S.289, aims to implement age verification methods online, which CCIA argues could compromise residents' data and personal information. CCIA provided written comments and testimony to Vermont lawmakers expressing their concerns about the bill.According to CCIA, the additional personal information required by the bill could undermine efforts to pass and implement a...

Coin Center, a leading nonprofit focused on the policy issues facing cryptocurrencies and decentralized technologies, has filed an amicus brief in defense of the Tornado Cash developer, Roman Storm. The brief, submitted in the Southern District of New York, aims to provide clarity on the nature of Tornado Cash and the legal implications surrounding its use.According to Coin Center, the prosecution's description of Tornado Cash has been vague and prejudicial. In their brief, Coin Center states, "We help the court cut through the vague and prejudicial description of Tornado...

Washington, D.C. — Chairman Rostin Behnam, sponsor of the Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC), today provided further insight on planned discussion topics for the upcoming AAC meeting. The public meeting will be held on April 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (CDT) at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel in Overland Park, KS. Members of the public will also have the option to attend virtually.“Ongoing climate and geo-political issues affecting our nation’s farmers and ranchers underscore the importance of access to capital as well as tools for hedging, financing, and managing...

A manufacturer of Christmas wreaths and seasonal greens has agreed to pay $1.85 million in back wages to approximately 700 employees, as stated by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The company, whose products are sold at Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Wegmans, Costco and Publix, was found guilty of denying overtime pay to its seasonal workers and migrants.

Christopher Collins has been appointed as the new superintendent of New Philadelphia National Historic Site, with his tenure set to commence later this spring.

WASHINGTON—The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) has expressed concerns over the FCC's draft Order that would regulate broadband under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934. Joe Kane, ITIF’s director of broadband and spectrum policy, criticized the potential impact of the Order on broadband availability and quality.Kane stated, "The FCC’s draft Order would saddle the competitive broadband marketplace with regulations that will reduce the long-term availability and quality of broadband." He also highlighted that the Internet had thrived both...

WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation today announced the 2024 Top 50 Global Retailers, a list compiled by Kantar based on the operational performance of international retailers at the beginning of 2023. NRF Executive Director of Research Mark Mathews expressed, "In our increasingly interconnected global economy, retailers are continually expanding their international customer base." He added, "It is exciting to see the tremendous breadth and diversity of businesses that are featured in this year's Global Top 50."Maintaining its position as the world's largest...

CDT’s Tech Talk podcast recently featured a discussion on the topic of differential privacy. Rachel Cummings, Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at Columbia University, and Daniel Susser, Associate Professor for the Department of Information Science at Cornell University, delved into the nuances of this privacy-enhancing technique.Differential privacy has gained traction as a method to bolster privacy protections in data processing systems. However, as Rachel Cummings pointed out, there are underlying assumptions that need to be...

In the realm of consumer privacy legislation and its implications on schools, a recent article has shed light on the potential unintended consequences that such laws could have on the education sector.The need for comprehensive privacy legislation to protect personal information, especially that of children, has been emphasized. The importance of data in supporting various functions within schools, such as class assignments and funding, has also been highlighted.Existing laws governing student data, such as FERPA and COPPA, provide specific protections that must be...

WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation today announced that the 2024 America’s Retail Champions program is now open for nominations. Now in its seventh year, America’s Retail Champions honors small retailers from across the country who speak out on public policy debates affecting the retail industry at the national, state, and local levels.NRF Senior Vice President of Government Relations David French emphasized the importance of small business owners, stating, "Small business owners are the backbone of communities large and small across America. They are exceptional...

Digital characters in video games are undergoing a transformation, thanks to advancements in AI technology. NVIDIA's Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE) is at the forefront of this evolution, allowing game developers to create lifelike non-playable characters (NPCs) that interact dynamically with players in real time.According to NVIDIA, ACE microservices enable developers to integrate state-of-the-art generative AI models into digital avatars, enhancing their responsiveness and interactivity. This technology is already being embraced by leading game developers, studios, and...

"In a recent interview, Megan Iorio, senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, highlighted the challenges of regulating speech within the confines of the First Amendment. Iorio expressed her views on the difficulty of ensuring privacy while verifying a user's age, stating that "there is no privacy-protective way" to accomplish this task.Moreover, Iorio pointed out the inadequacy of placing the responsibility on parents to address the negative impacts of complex social media algorithms, remarking that it is "not how things should work." She stressed the...

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is currently at odds with automakers over the potential regulations for connected cars. Despite multiple requests for comment, the FCC has remained silent on the matter.According to Chris Frascella, counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel has not been transparent in making the industry's response letters easily accessible to the public. This lack of transparency contrasts with 2022 when Rosenworcel prominently published manufacturers' letters in response to inquiries about geolocation...

Funds from fiscal year 2023 energy revenues have been allocated to Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and their coastal political subdivisions. These funds will enable the recipients to undertake projects related to hurricane protection, coastal restoration, and conservation.