According to government estimates, 500,000 people a year are victims of identity theft.   At least 39 states now have laws addressing identify theft, and in the last year, seven states passed identify fraud legislation.  This program will identify options and approaches to halt this growing crime.

Moderator: 

Dan Schmidt, Analyst, Wisconsin

• Senator Jon Erpenbach, Wisconsin
• Robert Ellis Smith, Editor, Privacy Journal, Rhode Island
• Helen Foster, Attorney, Identity Theft Program. Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC
• Stuart Pratt, Vice President, Government Relations, Associated Credit Bureaus, Washington, DC

• "ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name" - Report from the FTC

From flowers to shoes to airline tickets, consumers can purchase nearly everything via the Internet.  With more than 100 million Americans currently on the Net and nearly half of them purchasing goods online, policymakers have an interest in protecting Internet consumers from fraud and abuse.  Do laws and policies set in place for America's Main Street work for the electronic marketplace?

Moderator: 

Senator Steve Kelley, Minnesota

• Eric Wenger, Attorney, Division of Marketing Practices, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 
• Sarah Reznik, Counsel, Consumer Protection and Telemarketing Fraud Enforcement, National Association of Attorneys General, Washington, DC
• Phillip McKee, Assistant Director, National Fraud Information Center, National Consumers Union, Washington, DC
• Mark Uncapher, Vice President and Counsel, Information Services & Electronic Commerce, Information Technology Association of American (ITAA),  Washington, DC

• "Internet Investigations: Modem Hijacking, Unauthorized Credit Card Charges . . ."- Mr. Wenger's presentation
• "Protecting Consumers Online: A Federal Trade Commission Report on the First Five Years of Its Internet Law Enforcement Program" (PDF Download) - Report from the FTC
• Privacy Online: Fair Information Practices in the Electronic Marketplace (PDF Download) - Report from the FTC
• FTC Staff Issues Report on Competition Policy in the World of B2B Electronic Marketplaces - FTC News Release

As the technology tidal wave sweeps across state legislatures, it is causing major changes in the institution and its members.  The Internet, e-mail, computer conferencing, and Web streaming are new ways for legislators to communicate with constituents, conduct hearings, provide access to deliberations, produce and deliver information.   In this roundtable discussion, panelists will discuss their experiences and provide tips for making the best use of current and emerging information technology.  (Joint with the Legislative Effectiveness Committee)

Moderators: 

• Senator Bob Jauch, Wisconsin

• Senator Steve Kelley, Minnesota
• Evan Goldberg, Chief of Staff, Office of Senator Debra Bowen, California
• Alfred W.  Speer, Clerk of the House, Louisiana
• Professor Charles Finn, Empire State College, New York

• Session Summary

For businesses, customer information is a valuable commodity that helps shape new products and reach potential purchasers.  But, growing concern about personal privacy is prompting state and federal policymakers to re-examine the rules and policies governing use of information about customers.  Especially given the volume of personal information available electronically, what are the options?  Policymakers and private sector leaders will outline their approaches to ensure customer privacy.

Moderators:

Senator Steve Kelley, Minnesota

Delegate Joe T. May, Virginia

• Senator Jon Erpenbach, Wisconsin
• Senator Michael Balboni, New York 
• Robert Ellis Smith, Editor, Privacy Journal, Rhode Island
• Peter Swire, White House Chief Counselor for Privacy, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC
• Harriet Pearson, Chief Privacy Officer, IBM, Washington, DC
• Pat Faley,Vice President, Ethics and Consumer Affairs, Direct Marketing Association, Washington, DC
• Win Billingsly, Chief Privacy Officer, Naviant, Pennsylvania
• Mark Goldner, Chief Operating Officer, YOUpowered, New York 
• Joel Winston, Acting Associate Director for Financial  Practices, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 

 

• Privacy Online: Fair Information Practices in the Electronic Marketplace (PDF Download) - Report from the FTC