FTC To Host Nov. 16 Workshop on Privacy Issues Related to Cross-Device Tracking

The FTC will host a Nov. 16 workshop on privacy issues for “cross-device tracking” for advertising and marketing purposes, the agency said Tuesday in a news release. Questions the commission hopes to answer include: What are the different types of cross-device tracking, how do they work, and what are they used for; What types of information and benefits do companies gain from using these technologies; What benefits do consumers derive from the use of these technologies; What are the privacy and security risks associated with the use of these technologies; How can companies make their tracking more transparent and give consumers greater control over it; and Do current industry self-regulatory programs apply to different cross-device tracking techniques, the agency said. “More consumers are connecting with the internet in different ways, and industry has responded by coming up with additional tools to track their behavior,” said Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Jessica Rich. "It’s important to ensure that consumers’ privacy remains protected as businesses seek to target them across multiple devices.”