Federal Privacy Law, Presented at Policy Conferences

The advance of identification technology—biometrics, identity cards, surveillance, databases, dossiers—threatens privacy, civil liberties, and related human interests. In the wake of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 demands for identification in the name of security have increased. A national identification card, created by Congress in the REAL ID Act, is an example of a poor way to secure the country or its citizens. Instead of a uniform, government-controlled identification system, we need a competitive, responsive identification and credentialing industry that meets the mix of consumer demands for privacy, security, anonymity, and accountability. This session will explore the policy issues associated with identity and the implications for colleges and universities.

As Congress strives to pass legislation that would provide a uniform federal law for security breach notifications, a number of related privacy and security policy proposals are under consideration in the Congress and executive branch agencies. This panel will address topics such as preventing misuse of Social Security numbers, requirements for a personal data privacy and security programs, and measures to prevent identity theft.