Society is approaching a turning point that could well determine the future of privacy. Policy-makers and business leaders soon will make decisions about technology practices that will either ensure that data is used for the benefit of individuals and society, or take us down a path where we are controlled by how others use our data.

These words convey the worry among various privacy experts in law, policy, and industry who recently launched “The Future of Privacy Forum.” The group, headed by Jules Polonetsky and Christopher Wolf, hopes to influence policy and develop best practices on privacy for online and ICT businesses.

In their words:

FPF advocates for privacy advances that promote transparency and user control in a manner that is practical for business to implement to ensure personal autonomy for all who seek to embrace the benefits of our digital society.

While some are skeptical of an industry-funded effort to shape privacy policy and legislation, I’m optimistic that the FPF will work in good faith to bring together “dedicated technologists, policymakers, industry groups and advocates” to work towards new privacy practices and frameworks.

I’ve long argued that rather than a purely aggressive stance, we privacy advocates must work collaboratively with industry in order to find pragmatic solutions that foster the value-conscious design of new technologies to protect privacy, support corporate social responsibility, and yes, even profitability.

I hope the FPF can help move us down this path.

UPDATE: Please read the reaction to my post by Chronicles of Dissent. I obviously didn’t adequately convey that I do support aggressive stances (and they often are necessary), but also feel they can and should be complemented by more collaborative approaches. And I also don’t mean to take AT&T off the hook in terms of their problematic past wrt user privacy.

From the abstract:

This document examines a broad range of issues the next President and Congress must address in order to keep the Internet a powerful engine for innovation, economic growth and democratization. The policies outlined in this paper describe current threats to the Internet and then proposes policies and actions that the next President and Congress should take to protect innovation, privacy, consumer choice, and freedom of expression.

Subject areas include:

• Preserving Free Speech and Protecting Children Online
• Protecting Consumer Privacy in the Digital Age
• Restoring the Balance between Security and Liberty
• Promoting Global Internet Freedom
• Keeping the Internet Open to Innovation
• Promoting Open Government

I recently had the privilege to join colleagues at a working dinner with the CDT’s Ari Schwartz and Jim Dempsey to discuss the document, and they welcome additional feedback (what’s missing, what should be brought into more focus, etc).

They’ve set it up online for people to be able to add their own comments, etc, so I encourage everyone to check it out.

1. Privacy. Protect human dignity, autonomy, and privacy by providing individuals with control over the collection, use, and distribution of their personal information and medical information.

2. Access. Promote high-speed Internet access and increased connectivity for all, through both government and private initiatives, to reduce the digital divide.

3. Network Neutrality. Legislate against unreasonable discrimination by network providers against particular applications or content to maintain the Internet’s role in fostering innovation, economic growth, and democratic communication.

4. Transparency. Preserve accountability and oversight of government functions by strengthening freedom of information and improving electronic access to government deliberations and materials.

5. Innovation. Restore balance to intellectual property rules and explore alternative incentives to better promote innovation, freedom, access to knowledge, and human development.

6. Democracy. Empower individuals to fully participate in government and politics by making electronic voting consistent, reliable, and secure with voter-verifiable paper trails.

7. Education. Expand effective exceptions and limitations to intellectual property for education to ensure that teachers and students have access to innovative digital teaching techniques and educational resources.

8. Culture. Ensure that law and technology promote a free, vibrant and democratic culture, fair exchanges between different cultures, and individual rights to create and participate in culture.

9. Diversity. Limit media concentration and expand media ownership to ensure a diverse marketplace of ideas.

9.5 Openness. Support innovation and fair competition by stimulating openness in software, technological standards, Internet governance, and content licensing.

Please feel free to comment on the official post at the CFP08 blog.

(9.5 Theses – get it?)