FTC's new Chief Technologist and online privacy

by: Hopeful

Thu Nov 04, 2010 at 03:51:04 PM EDT

Looks like the Federal Trade Commission got its first choice of Chief Technologist, because it's hard to think of anyone better to serve in that capacity than Princeton computer science professor Ed Felten, a guy whose CV makes everyone from Microsoft to Diebold shudder in embarrassment. A renowned computer researcher, Felten has over the years led charges against some of technology's most ill-starred concepts chronicling them in his widely read Freedom to Tinker blog.

On the Freedom to Tinker blog he states "My main role at the FTC will be to provide advice on technology policy issues." This FTC release tells us what they have in mind, and it sounds good to me:

"Ed is extraordinarily respected in the technology community, and his background and knowledge make him an outstanding choice to serve as the agency's first Chief Technologist," Leibowitz said. "He's going to add unparalleled expertise on high-technology markets and computer security. And he also will provide invaluable input into the recommendations we'll be making soon for online privacy, as well as the enforcement actions we'll soon bring to protect consumer privacy. We're thrilled to have him on board."