[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 223 (Friday, November 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69556-69557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29471]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION


Public Workshop: The Mobile Wireless Web, Data Services and 
Beyond: Emerging Technologies and Consumer Issues

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice announcing workshop.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (``Commission'') has set December 
11-12, 2000 as the dates for a public workshop examining emerging 
wireless Internet and data technologies and the privacy, security, and 
consumer protection issues they raise.

DATES: The workshop will be held December 11-12, 2000 in the Commission 
Meeting Room (432), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about the workshop, 
contact: Ellen Finn, Division of Financial Practices, Federal Trade 
Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580, 
telephone 202-326-3296, e-mail [email protected]; Stacy Feuer, Division of 
Advertising Practices, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580, telephone 202-326-3072, e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Mobile Wireless Web, Data Services and Beyond: Emerging 
Technologies and Consumer Protection Issues

Workshop Goals

    One of the Commission's principal missions is to protect consumers 
from unfair and deceptive acts or practices. In recent years, the 
Internet and other new technologies have had a significant effect on 
this mission and the Commission has held numerous public workshops on 
issues related to the emerging global electronic marketplace. These 
workshops provide an opportunity for the Commission and the public to 
learn about these technologies changes and for the Commission to learn 
how best to provide guidance to both consumers and businesses. These 
workshops also provide an opportunity for businesses to learn about the 
Commission's consumers protection and competition concerns. In the 
past, the Commission has hosted forums on such topics as online 
consumer privacy issues, advertising disclosures in new media, on-line 
dispute resolution mechanisms, and business to business electronic 
marketplaces.
    Mobile wireless Internet and data technologies raise money of the 
privacy and advertising issues previously considered by the Commission.

[[Page 69557]]

Accordingly, the goal of the announced workshop is to educate 
government officials and other interested parties about emerging 
wireless technologies, and to provide a forum for discussion of the 
privacy, security, and consumer protection issues raised by these new 
technologies.

Questions To Be Addressed

(1) Mobile Technology and Business Models
    (a) Where is wireless Internet and data technology today and where 
is it going? What devices are currently available for wireless Web 
access and data services? What sorts of devices and services are 
anticipated? How will mobile commerce or ``m-commerce'' develop?
    (b) How do wireless Internet and data services function? What types 
of relationships will consumers have with wireless equipment makers, 
carriers, data service providers and others involved in the provision 
of these services? Will consumers' wireless data services be supported 
by advertising (as many Internet site are), or will consumers pay for 
subscriptions (like cable television) or pay fees-per-service accessed?
(2) Privacy and Security
    What privacy and security issues do wireless devices raise? For 
example, how will location information be used (generally and more 
particularly with respect to advertising) and what are the privacy and 
security implications of the availability of location information? Is 
transmission of personal information secure in the wireless medium? As 
wireless devices converge so that cell phones, personal digital 
assistants, and electronic wallets may become a single device, how are 
the risks of identity theft increased and what security measures are 
possible?
    Within this broad topic, the workshop would address existing 
regulatory structures and existing or emerging self-regulatory 
initiatives, as well as technological methods of addressing privacy and 
security concerns.
(3) Disclosures
    How can companies make effective disclosures on small screens (both 
advertising and privacy disclosures)? Particularly as devices move to a 
combination of voice and text communication, how do traditional 
concepts like ``clear and conspicuous'' and ``equal prominence'' apply? 
Are there other aspects of this unique medium that will require 
modification of traditional consumer protection approaches?

    By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-29471 Filed 11-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M