As the leading federal agency responsible for protecting your privacy rights online, technology is at the core of the Federal Trade Commissions work. You may be familiar with the agency's enforcement actions against some of the worlds biggest tech companies for privacy/data security violations, but you may not know how your research skills can inform its investigations and policy. Come hear about some of the Commissions recent tech-related actions, research and reports, plus how its work impacts both consumers and businesses. You'll also learn how you can directly or indirectly help the agency protect consumers, guide businesses to develop better/strong data security, and much more.
Ashkan Soltani is a researcher focused on privacy, security, and behavioral economics, currently serving as the Chief Technologist for the Federal Trade Commission. His work draws attention to privacy problems online, demystifies technology for the non-technically inclined, and provides data-driven insights to help inform policy.Ashkan was recognized as part of the 2014 Pulitzer winning team for his contributions to the Washington Post's coverage of the Snowden Files. He has previously served as staff technologist in the Division of Privacy and Identity Protection at the Federal Trade Commission and was the primary technical consultant on the Wall Street Journal's "What They Know" investigative series. Ashkan has also appeared on several major media programs, including CBS's 60 Minutes, PBS's Frontline, and National Public Radio.
Terrell McSweeny serves as a Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission sometimes referred to as the Federal Technology Commission. This year marks her second Black Hat/DEF CON adventure. When it comes to tech issues, Commissioner McSweeny wants companies to implement security by design, to be transparent about their data collection practices, and to give consumers as much control as possible.