NTIA Announces 2014 Privacy Multistakeholder Meetings on Facial Recognition Technology | Practical Law

NTIA Announces 2014 Privacy Multistakeholder Meetings on Facial Recognition Technology | Practical Law

The US Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has announced multiple privacy multistakeholder meetings concerning facial recognition technology beginning on February 6, 2014 and scheduled through June 24, 2014.

NTIA Announces 2014 Privacy Multistakeholder Meetings on Facial Recognition Technology

by Practical Law Intellectual Property & Technology
Published on 03 Jan 2014 • USA (National/Federal)
The US Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has announced multiple privacy multistakeholder meetings concerning facial recognition technology beginning on February 6, 2014 and scheduled through June 24, 2014.
On December 3, 2013, the US Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a notice of open meetings announcing the 2014 schedule for privacy multistakeholder meetings on the commercial use of facial recognition technology (78 Fed. Reg. 73502-01 (Dec. 6, 2013)). According to the press release, the process's objective is to develop a voluntary, enforceable code of conduct specifying how the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights applies to facial recognition technology. For more on the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, see Legal Update, White House Releases Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights.
The first meeting will be held on February 6, 2014 with eight subsequent meetings scheduled through June 2014. For the first meeting, NTIA will publish a draft meeting agenda on December 20, 2013 and a final agenda on January 17, 2014.
All meetings will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., EDT in the Boardroom at the American Institute of Architects, 1735 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006. The press release notes that all meetings are aimed toward developing the code of conduct. The objectives for each meeting are as follows:
  • February 6, 2014: Convene a factual, stakeholder-driven dialogue on the technical capabilities and commercial uses of facial recognition technology with discussion panels and Q&A sessions with industry, civil society and academia stakeholders.
  • February 25, 2014: Begin discussion on a code of conduct and provide a venue for stakeholders to agree on the group's procedural work plan.
  • March-June 2014 meetings: Allow stakeholders to discuss, draft and revise the code of conduct. The specific dates for these meetings are:
    • March 25, 2014;
    • April 8, 2014;
    • April 29, 2014;
    • May 20, 2014;
    • June 3, 2014; and
    • June 24, 2014.
The meetings are open to all interested stakeholders and the press. Remote participation is available via webcast and more information is available on NTIA's website. Interested stakeholders planning to attend the February 6, 2014 meeting or view the webcast can RSVP here.
Background information on the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights and the NTIA's role in the privacy multistakeholder process is available in the NTIA's press release.