News and Events

WASHINGTON – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced a Request for Comment on how companies’ data practices may impose outsized harm on marginalized or underserved communities.

The ways in which firms collect, share, and use data can exacerbate existing structural inequities. As NTIA notes in its Privacy, Equity, and Civil Rights Request for Comment:

Online job ads may be targeted based on real or perceived demographic characteristics such as age, sex, or race – reaching certain groups while ignoring others.

Every day, personal information is used to make important decisions: about what advertisements we see, what types of health care is offered in our communities, and what fields of study our educational institutes believe we are best suited for.

The collection, processing, and sharing of personal information can create serious risks for everyone. For racial minorities, people living with disabilities, people living in poverty, and other marginalized and underserved communities, the risks can be especially acute.

Remarks of Diane Rinaldo
Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
IGF-USA 2019
Washington, D.C.
July 25, 2019

--As Prepared for Delivery--

Thank you to Melinda and Dustin for the introduction, and for all the work you’ve done to make IGF-USA a success.

Remarks of Diane Rinaldo
Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
GCTC Smart and Secure Cities and Communities Challenge Expo
Washington, D.C.
July 11, 2019

--As Prepared for Delivery--

Hello and thank you for being here.

Cybersecurity and privacy included in 2019 problem-solving goals

Remarks of David J. Redl
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
Mobile World Congress Ministerial Programme
Barcelona, Spain
February 26, 2019

-- As Prepared for Delivery --

Today, NTIA released comments it received in response to a September 25, 2018, request for comment on a high-level framework for protecting consumer data privacy. We received over 200 comments from individuals, industry associations, companies, civil society, and academics.

Remarks of David J. Redl
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
Forum Europe: Artificial Intelligence 2018
Brussels, Belgium
October 18, 2018

--As Prepared for Delivery--

Thank you. It’s great to be here in Brussels to discuss the exciting promise of artificial intelligence and how the U.S. government is preparing for the future of AI.

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a Request for Comments on a proposed approach to consumer data privacy designed to provide high levels of protection for individuals, while giving organizations legal clarity and the flexibility to innovate.

Remarks of David J. Redl
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information
Mobile World Congress Americas
Los Angeles
September 12, 2018

--As Prepared for Delivery--

Ensuring America’s Leadership in a 5G World

Thank you. It’s great to be here in Los Angeles among so many friends and colleagues.

Remarks of David J. Redl
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
IGF-USA 2018
Washington, D.C.
July 27, 2018

-- As prepared for delivery --

Thank you, Shane, and thanks as well to your co-chair, Dustin Phillips; the ISOC-DC chapter, which provides Secretarial support for the IGF-USA; and all members of the IGF-USA Steering Committee for volunteering their time to organize this important event.

More than a year ago, President Obama asked NTIA to convene stakeholders to help develop best practices to address privacy, transparency and accountability issues related to private and commercial use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

Remarks of Lawrence E. Strickling
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
The Internet Governance Forum USA
Washington, D.C.
July 16, 2015

—As Prepared for Delivery—

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have the potential to provide a wide range of innovative and beneficial services to businesses and consumers in the United States. From enhancing news gathering, improving agribusiness, providing new delivery models, to providing Internet in remote areas, the possibilities for UAS are staggering.  Consumer trust and responsible operation are keys to fully tapping the transformative potential of unmanned aircraft.

Testimony of

John B. Morris, Jr.
Associate Administrator
Office of Policy Analysis and Development
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
United States Department of Commerce

Before the

Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
United States Senate

Hearing entitled

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced it is seeking comment on a new multistakeholder process aimed at developing privacy best practices for the commercial and private use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The public is invited to submit suggestions concerning the structure of the multistakeholder engagement and the substantive issues stakeholders will discuss.

“We applaud today’s announcements from the Application Developers Alliance, Intuit and TRUSTe that they have released enhanced privacy notices for mobile applications, which are based on the code of conduct developed through the NTIA-convened multistakeholder process.  This is an important step that will give consumers more information about what data is being collected via mobile apps and empower consumers to protect their privacy.  We are pleased that others have tested and implemented notices, including ACT: The App Association and Lookout, and we encourage other companies to i

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is seeking public comment on how developments related to “big data” impact the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights.

Remarks of Lawrence E. Strickling
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
Privacy Multistakeholder Meeting on Commercial Facial Recognition Technology

February 6, 2014

—As Prepared for Delivery—

This week, the Commerce Department is taking an important step in our campaign to drive innovation and better protect consumer privacy in the digital economy.

Remarks by Lawrence E. Strickling
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
“Data Protection: The Challenges and Opportunities for Individuals and Businesses”
American European Community Association (AECA) Conference
Brussels, Belgium
December 3, 2013
 

-As prepared for delivery-

Today, we are launching a new privacy multistakeholder process on commercial use of facial recognition technology.  Facial recognition technology uses software to help identify a person based on a digital image.