Getting Answers: Bipartisan Privacy Caucus To Hold Public Briefing on Location-Based Services with Firms Across Industry, Privacy Expert

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Bi-Partisan Congressional Privacy Caucus will host a briefing Thursday about the collection, storage and use of location-based user data in the wake of recent media reports that indicate mobile devices are collecting customers’ personal location data. Representatives Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Joe Barton (R-Texas) are Co-Chairmen of the Privacy Caucus.

Stakeholders – including wireless service providers and application developers – will attend and answer questions about industry practices.  Marc Rotenberg, Executive Director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), will also participate on the panel along with industry stakeholders.

The event is open to the public, Members of Congress, and congressional staff.

Reps. Markey and Barton said in a joint statement:

This will be an open, frank and educational discussion about the recent inquiries into the who, what, why and where of industry policies and practices for location-based information. We want to give stakeholders an opportunity to address publicly any questions or concerns consumers have about what is collected from a mobile device and why. We look forward to an informational and engaging discussion.”

What: Privacy Caucus Briefing on location-based services and consumer privacy

Who:

  • Andrea Williams, CTIA – The Wireless Association
  •  Marc Rotenberg, EPIC – Electronic Privacy Information Center
  • Morgan Reed, ACT – Association for Competitive Technology
  • Additional guests TBD

 When: Thursday, May 12th 1:30pm

Where: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

Reps. Markey and Barton have been congressional leaders on providing privacy protections for personal consumer information. The lawmakers have investigated the practices of companies such as Google, Apple, Facebook, and the four major wireless carriers about their data collection, storage, use and disclosure practices.