Consumer privacy, travel records, and the FTC

The USA Federal Trade Commission — one of the Federal agencies that seems to have really taken a new direction under new management with the Obama Administration — is organizing “a series of day-long public roundtable discussions to explore the privacy challenges posed by the vast array of 21st century technology and business practices that collect and use consumer data,” starting 7 December 2009 at FTC headquarters in Washington, followed by (tentatively) a session in Berkeley, CA, on 28 January 2010.

Today I submitted a request to participate and a recommendation that the FTC include the privacy of travel records on their agenda for action. I’ve posted it here for those interested in a white paper on the privacy issues posed by travel data, and what USA consumer protection agencies could and should do about it.

The first round of comments and suggestions for the FTC privacy roundtables closes next Friday, 6 November 2009. If you agree that travel privacy belongs on their agenda, or if you have other ideas, please let them know .