[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20389-20390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10252]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION


Public Workshop: Information Flows: The Costs and Benefits to 
Consumers and Businesses of the Collection and Use of Consumer 
Information

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of public workshop and opportunity for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') 
announces a public workshop on ``The Costs and Benefits to Consumers 
and Businesses of the Collection and Use of Consumer Information.'' The 
workshop will focus on how and why certain businesses collect, analyze, 
and use certain consumer information to facilitate commercial 
transactions with consumers and the associated costs and benefits to 
consumers and businesses of such practices. The workshop will be held 
at and administered by the FTC.

DATES: The workshop will take place on June 18, 2003, at the FTC's 
Satellite Building, now located at 601 New Jersey Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC. The workshop is open to the public and attendance is 
free of charge. Pre-registration is not required. The workshop will be 
transcribed and placed on the public record.
    Requests to Participate as a Panelist: As discussed below, written 
requests to participate as a panelist in the workshop must be filed on 
or before May 9, 2003. Requests should be addressed to Donald S. Clark, 
Office of the Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580 or via e-mail at [email protected]. 
Parties are asked to include in their requests a detailed statement 
setting forth their expertise in or knowledge of the issues and their 
contact information, including a telephone number, facsimile number, 
and e-mail address.
    Using the following criteria, FTC staff will select a limited 
number of panelists to participate in the forum:
    1. The party has expertise in or knowledge of the issues that are 
the focus of the forum.
    2. The party's participation would promote a balance of interests 
being represented at the forum.
    3. The party can present information or evidence that is highly 
relevant to the forum and not available from other parties.
    Persons filing requests to participate as a panelist will be 
notified on or before May 21, 2003, if they have been selected to 
participate.
    Written Comments: Whether or not selected to participate, any 
interested person may submit written comments responsive to any of the 
topics to be addressed; such comments should be submitted no later than 
the last panel of the workshop. Any written comments received also will 
be placed on the public record. Written comments should be submitted in 
both hard copy and electronic form. Six hard copies of each

[[Page 20390]]

submission should be addressed to Donald S. Clark, Office of the 
Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20580. Submissions should be captioned ``Comments 
regarding consumer information flows.'' Electronic submissions may be 
sent by electronic mail to [email protected]. Alternatively, electronic 
submissions may be filed on a 3\1/2\ inch computer disk with a label on 
the disk stating the name of the submitter and the name and version of 
the word processing program used to create the document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maureen Ohlhausen, (202) 326-2632, 
mko/[email protected], Office of Policy Planning, 600 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580. A detailed agenda for the workshop 
will be available on the FTC Home Page (http://www.ftc.gov) and through 
Mildred Taylor, Staff Secretary, at (202) 326-2553.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    Since 1995, the FTC has examined the consumer issues raised by the 
collection and use of consumer information. To gain a better 
understanding of these issues, the FTC has held workshops, conducted 
surveys, prepared reports, and met with numerous industry and consumer 
groups. Where the Commission determined that certain information 
practices were unlawful, it has also brought enforcement actions and 
issued educational materials to assist businesses and consumers in 
avoiding these practices. In approaching this issue, the FTC recognizes 
that the sharing and use of information can benefit consumers, but 
seeks to put a stop to unfair or deceptive information practices that 
harm consumers.
    As part of this ongoing effort to examine how information practices 
affect consumers, the FTC is announcing a workshop to examine the 
various costs and benefits of collecting and using certain consumer 
information to facilitate commercial transactions. To permit a closer 
examination of the issues, the workshop will focus on the collection 
and use of consumer information for particular commercial purposes in 
the context of two or three case studies. Candidates for such case 
studies include consumer credit, fraud prevention, financial services, 
customer relations management, and direct and targeted marketing. The 
workshop will not focus on transactions or entities outside the FTC's 
jurisdiction. The FTC is particularly interested in learning about 
specific data or studies showing how the use of consumer information 
for these commercial purposes affects consumers. Although observers 
frequently cite the costs and benefits of these uses of consumer 
information, a more thorough examination of the empirical evidence 
should promote greater understanding of the issues.

Issues

    Below is non-exhaustive list of issues to be addressed by the 
workshop. Written comments need not address all of these issues.
    How do businesses measure the value of consumer trust?
    What part do information practices play in this valuation?
    How do businesses collect and aggregate information about 
consumers?
    How do businesses use information about consumers in their 
operations?
    How do businesses incorporate information practices to benefit 
consumers?
    What types of information about consumers do businesses use?
    What factors should be considered in evaluating the costs and 
benefits to consumers and businesses of the collection and usage of 
this information?
    What are the benefits to consumers of the use of this information 
by businesses?
    What are the costs to consumers of the use of this information by 
businesses?
    The Commission welcomes suggestions for other questions that also 
should be addressed. Proposed questions, identified as such, may be 
sent by electronic mail to [email protected].

    By direction of the Commission, with Commissioner Anthony voting 
in the negative.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-10252 Filed 4-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M