Events

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You’re Invited: Digital Trade Lunch Rayburn

Join us for a Rayburn lunch discussion on “The Shifting Of U.S. Digital Trade Policy: Where Is USTR’s New Strategy Leading US?” on Monday, May 6 at 12 PM. RSVP for an in-person lunch or register for the livestream below.

Date: Monday, May 6, 2024
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
Location: 2045 Rayburn House Office Building or Virtual
RSVP: via Eventbrite

For decades, the U.S. promoted digital trade rules based on an open Internet, fostering freedom of expression, e-commerce, and democracy. However, concerns about big tech’s influence on these rules have led U.S. Trade Representative Tai to adjust USTR’s approach, including withdrawing from some World Trade Organization provisions related to cross-border data flows and digital trade. Debates over Section 230, which grants liability protections for online platforms, further reflect the changing landscape.

This panel brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and academic experts to discuss the implications of these shifts. Topics include the risks of data localization, challenges to digital sovereignty, and strategies for maintaining a globally connected Internet, with panelists also addressing how to balance security and privacy while promoting a free and open digital ecosystem, offering advice on how the U.S. can continue leading in innovation and protecting user rights.

Key Questions for Discussion:

  • What are the implications of the U.S. stepping back from WTO digital trade protections, and how could this influence the broader global digital trade landscape?
  • How can U.S. policymakers navigate the shift toward digital protectionism and data localization while still advocating for an open, interconnected internet?
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RSVP: Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA): Competition Perspectives from the European Commission

Join us for our Tech Policy Recess discussion on “Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA): Competition Perspectives from the European Commission.” For this TPR discussion, we will be joined by two DMA experts from the European Commission, DG COMP Policy Director Inge Bernaerts and DG CONNECT Advisor Michael Koenig, to discuss what the DMA will mean for competition in the digital space in Europe. The DMA is a regulation of the European Union aimed at ensuring fair competition in the marketplace by accounting for large technology companies (i.e. online platforms) that are designated as “gatekeepers” due to their market power.

Our discussion is hosted by the Congressional Internet Caucus Academy in conjunction with the Congressional Internet Caucus.

Date: Thursday, June 2, 2022
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Virtual
RSVP: Via Eventbrite here

Inge Bernaerts
Policy Director
DG COMP 

Michael Koenig
Advisor
DG CONNECT

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

techpolicy

ICYMI: Blockchain, Brokers & Web3 Video, Audio, Transcript Available Now

Blockchain, Brokers, & The Infrastructure Bill: Will A Revision Help Grow The Decentralized Web?
The audio, video, and transcript from January 14th’s “Blockchain, Brokers & Web3” event are available below. Our panel discussed how the Infrastructure Bill impacted not only cryptocurrencies but also the emerging Web3 ecosystem. They also discussed what Web3 actually is. Links to the media are below. 
WATCH YOUTUBE
EVENT AUDIO
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EVENT TRANSCRIPT
Available Here
privacy series

Announcing Federal Commercial Privacy Legislative Workshop Series

November 08, 2018

Starting in 2019 the Congressional Internet Caucus Academy will host a series of hands-on workshops for policymakers on competing principles and policy considerations as they examine approaches to safeguarding Americans’ privacy. These four specialized workshops will focus on commercial privacy rules and will complement the Academy’s already robust Internet policy briefing program. The workshops are designed to provide policymakers with a baseline understanding on complex privacy issues such as consent, context, enforcement, extraterritorial considerations, sensitive information, and more. The Academy will draw its faculty from the leading experts in Internet policy and will include the diversity of perspectives that is the hallmark of the program.

Sign-up here to receive updates on the program and to receive priority announcements on how to register and attend them.

More About The Academy’s Commercial Privacy Workshop Series

A rash of commercial privacy incidents in recent years, combined with Europe’s GDPR rules and California’s Consumer Privacy Act of 2018, have increased pressure for a federal privacy law for personal commercial data. Privacy advocacy groups along with some lawmakers have intensified their calls for federal privacy legislation in recent months. And several major Industry groups have called for legislation in this area as well. Policymakers on the Hill need to get quickly up to speed on the framework governing commercial privacy in the United States and what might enhance that framework from a legislative and regulatory perspective.

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ICYMI: California Privacy Law Briefing Video now online. Should Congress Act?

Yesterday, the Congressional Internet Caucus Academy assembled a group of experts to discuss the recent action on consumer privacy in California and the EU, and the potential for Congressional legislation. Our panelists had a lively debate on the effectiveness of consumer privacy bills, and what should be done to protect online data.

Photos, video, and a podcast of the event are now available on our channels — watch to learn more about the future of consumer privacy.

The Academy Panel

Michelle De Mooy – Director, Privacy and Data Project, Center for Democracy and Technology (bio)

Ryan Hagemann – Senior Director for Policy, Niskanen Center (bio)

Ariel Fox Johnson – Senior Counsel for Policy and Privacy, Common Sense Media (bio)

Jordan Crenshaw – Assistant Policy Counsel, Chamber Technology Engagement Center, U.S. Chamber of Commerce (bio)

David McCabe – Technology Reporter, Axios (bio)

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Will The California, EU, and State Privacy Laws Be Addressed By Congress?

Last month the California legislature hastily passed sweeping privacy regulations to stave off even more sweeping rules that would have emerged from the state’s ballot initiative process. These regulations from the state of California, which is the world’s 5th largest economy and home to the most dominant data companies on the planet, will apply to a huge swath of data on the Internet, and offline as well. These rules follow the massive European privacy law, the GDPR, which started its enforcement period just a month earlier.

With consumer privacy breaches and Congressional privacy hearings in the headlines daily, many are asking whether Congress will act on data privacy? Will more US states follow California’s lead and pass consumer privacy laws as well?

Join us this Thursday July 26th in the Rayburn HOB for a popup briefing on the California Consumer Privacy Act, GDPR, and the potential for future Congressional action on this issue. We’ve assembled an expert group of panelists to discuss their perspectives on consumer privacy legislation in the past and moving forward

Join us on Thursday, July 26th, at the Rayburn House Building, Room 2226

Date: Thursday, July 26th, 2018
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2226
Lunch: Box lunch will be served.
Follow: @NetCaucusAC | #PrivacyIC

Moderator

David McCabe – Technology Reporter, Axios (bio)

Panelists

Michelle De Mooy – Director, Privacy and Data Project, Center for Democracy and Technology (bio)

Ryan Hagemann – Senior Director for Policy, Niskanen Center (bio)

Ariel Fox Johnson – Senior Counsel for Policy and Privacy, Common Sense Media (bio)

Jordan Crenshaw – Assistant Policy Counsel, Chamber Technology Engagement Center, U.S. Chamber of Commerce (bio)

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Blockchain Beyond Bitcoin: Building Trust in a Digital World

While there is a lot of hype around Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies, cryptocurrencies are only the tip of the iceberg. Blockchain – the technology underlying cryptocurrencies – offers a host of other transformative use cases, including supply chain management, digital identity management, and smart contracts.

Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology which promises to authenticate transactions without the need for a trusted third-party. Forward-looking companies are deploying blockchain for a variety of uses beyond cryptocurrency. Financial managers are using blockchain to verify digital identity and streamline the process of electronic signatures. Supply chain companies are exploring blockchain technology to track the goods we purchase every day through the entire supply chain. Government offices are identifying ways the technology can make government processes more efficient and cost-effective. Our panel will discuss the potentially transformative applications of blockchain beyond the hype of cryptocurrencies.

We’ve assembled an expert group of panelists to discuss their perspectives on business, government, blockchain, and more.

Join us on Monday, July 16th, at the Rayburn House Building, Room 2237

 

Moderator

Lydia Beyoud – FinTech & RegTech Reporter, Bloomberg Law (bio)

Panelists

Amgad Shehata -Senior Vice President, International Public Affairs & Strategy, UPS (bio)

Amy Davine Kim – Global Policy Director & General Counsel, Chamber of Digital Commerce (bio)

Tiffany Angulo – Legislative Assistant, Office of Rep. David Schweikert; Staff Co-Chair of the Congressional Blockchain Caucus (bio)

Jason Albert – Deputy General Counsel, Workday (bio)

Isabelle Corbett – Head of Regulatory Affairs, R3 (bio)

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ICYMI: GDPR Briefing

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Last Friday the CICA held a briefing about the implications of the impending EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). This single law would apply to the entire European continent as well as any businesses outside of Europe who handle European citizens data. The regulation is set to take effect May 25th, 2018 of this year. Our panel of experts discussed what this means for not only American companies but also challenges the idea that personal data is no longer a form of currency and individuals have rights to protect their data.

SPEAKERS

– Kelly DeMarchis Bastide, Partner, Venable (Bio)

– Melanie Bates, Director of Communications, Future of Privacy Forum, Moderator (Bio)

– Aymeric Dupont, Counsellor-Delegation of the European Union to the United States (Bio)

– Mike Godwin, Director of Innovation Policy and General Counsel, Distinguished Senior Fellow, R Street Institute (Bio)

– Joe Jerome, Policy Counsel, Center for Democracy & Technology (Bio)

Warrants Across the Pond Panel

USDOJ And UK Propose Protective Exchange of Electronic Data

Today during our debate on “Data Warrants Across the Pond: Envisioning A More Sustainable Process” representatives from the USDOJ and UK released a white paper titled “Proposed United States – United Kingdom Agreement on Secure and Privacy – Protective Exchange of Electronic Data for the Purposes of Countering Serious Crime, Including Terrorism.” The proposal comes one day after the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals decided the long awaited Microsoft v. U.S. decision.

The panel debated the issues and discussed the proposal in front of a packed room of Congressional staff.

The video, audio, photos of the debate are available here.

ICAC Encryption Panel

Encryption Takes the Hill! ICAC Panelists Ellis and Bitkower Testify at Judiciary Hearing

This afternoon, ICAC encryption panelists Deputy Assistant Attorney General David Bitkower and Jen Ellis of Rapid7 testify at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Cyber Crime: Modernizing our Legal Framework for the Information Age.

Bitkower and Ellis spoke on the ICAC panel “Encrypting Smartphones and Internet Messages: Are Americans More or Less Secure?” in March along with Tal Kopan of Politico, Amie Stepanovich of Access, and Heather West of CloudFlare.

You can watch or listen to video and audio podcast of the event below for a terrific overview of the debate.

 

 

 

[thaudio href=”http://netcaucus.org/audio/2015/20150312crypto.mp3″]Listen to Audio[/thaudio]
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Encrypting Smartphones and Internet Messages: Are Americans More or Less Secure?

ICAC Encryption Panel
 
Date: Thursday, March 12, 2015
Location Rayburn House Office Building Room 2226

Recently the “Crypto Wars” debate started anew when FBI Director Comey suggested that Apple and Google’s encrypting their smartphones presented grave concerns to law enforcement. He suggested that law enforcement should hold to the keys to such communications. UK Prime Minister David Cameron amplified that concern in the wake of the Paris terrorist attack suggesting that encrypted communications should be beyond the ears of law enforcement. And just recently President Barack Obama has called for a public conversation on encryption policy. That is a conversation we want to start on March 12.

The data encryption, or crypto, debate is a balancing act between providing digital security for personal communications while allowing security agencies access to prevent or respond to catastrophes. Corporations and privacy advocates argue that strong encryption is good for business and the only way to truly secure your computer or mobile device, but does this protection come at a cost? Are there any technical solutions to address this challenge?

Panelists:

  • David Bitkower, Deputy Assistant Attorney General (Criminal Division), United States Department of Justice (Bio)
  • Jen Ellis, Senior Director of Community and Public Affairs, Rapid7 (Bio)
  • Tal Kopan, Cybersecurity Reporter, Politico Pro (Moderator) (Bio)
  • Amie Stepanovich, Senior Policy Counsel, Access (Bio)
  • Heather West, Public Policy, CloudFlare
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