Public Comments

Sep 30 2016

United States’ Postal Service “Informed Delivery” plan puts consumers at risk

The US Postal Service’s new Informed Delivery system has the potential to impact every household in the United States that receives mail. It’s important, and there are plenty of privacy issues. The World Privacy Forum wrote extensive comments to the United States Postal Service warning it about certain consumer privacy and security risks of its Informed Delivery service. Here’s more information about Informed Delivery, and why it may create new phishing risks.

Sep 29 2016

WPF asks Office of Management and Budget to re-evaluate plan to request social media account information on entry/exit forms; requests pilot study

The World Privacy Forum filed comments today with the US Office of Management and Budget regarding a US Customs and Border Protection agency proposal to request social media account information from arriving and departing travelers on entry/exit forms. Earlier this year, WPF wrote comments to CBP directly and urged the agency to drop its proposal to request social media profile information from travelers on these key entry/exit forms due to procedural and policy concerns.

Aug 22 2016

WPF urges US Customs and Border Protection to change course on asking for social media accounts

The World Privacy Forum filed comments today with the US Customs and Border Protection agency regarding a proposal to request social media account information from arriving and departing travelers on entry/exit forms. WPF urged CBP to drop its proposal to request social media profile information from travelers on these key entry/exit forms. The entry forms in question

Apr 15 2016

WPF’s comments to the FDA on cybersecurity, urges increased attention to privacy

The World Privacy Forum submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration in response to its request for public input on its draft guidance on the cybersecurity of medical devices. The privacy considerations for medical devices is significant. Because there are a large number of stakeholders in the life cycle of cyber medical devices, the stakeholders are subject

Apr 04 2016

WPF files comments on US government proposal on confidentiality of drug/alcohol patient records, urges revisions

The World Privacy Forum commented on an important proposal to make changes to the existing rules regarding the confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse patient records. The proposal is from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), part of the US Department of Health and Human Services. These proposed rule changes are important, as the current

WPF a panelist at FTC Data Portability Workshop
22 September 2020, Washington, DC via zoom
WPF presenting on COVID-19 and identity at OECD – GPA Workshop
16 September 2020, Paris, France
ID4Africa, Spotlight on Unique Digital Identity Numbers
23 July 2020, Livecast from Paris, France

COVID-19 and HIPAA: HHS’s Troubled Approach to Waiving Privacy and Security Rules for the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic strained the U.S. health ecosystem in numerous ways, including putting pressure on the HIPAA privacy and security rules. The Department of Health and Human Services adjusted the privacy and security rules for the pandemic through the use of statutory and administrative HIPAA waivers. While some of the adjustments are appropriate for the emergency circumstances, there are also some meaningful and potentially unwelcome privacy and security consequences. At an appropriate time, the use of HIPAA waivers as a response to health care emergencies needs a thorough review. This report sets out the facts, identifies the issues, and proposes a roadmap for change.
New Report – Without Consent: An analysis of student directory information practices in U.S. schools, and impacts on privacy

Without Consent is the first major benchmarking privacy report to examine school directory information practices and related privacy issues in a multi-year study across more than 5,000 schools at the primary, secondary, and postsecondary levels. The research found troubling and challenging student privacy problems that need to be urgently addressed. The report contains extensive findings and recommendations regarding student privacy, and includes best practices, sample forms, and resources for schools, parents, and students.
Patient’s Guide to HIPAA: How to Use the Law to Guard your Health Privacy

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