[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 235 (Friday, December 6, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73502-73503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29157]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration


Multistakeholder Process To Develop Consumer Data Privacy Code of 
Conduct Concerning Facial Recognition Technology

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of open meetings.

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SUMMARY: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA) will convene meetings of a privacy multistakeholder process 
concerning the commercial use of facial recognition technology. This 
Notice announces the meetings to be held in February, March, April, 
May, and June 2014. The first meeting is scheduled for February 6, 
2014.

DATES: The meetings will be held on February 6, 2014; February 25, 
2014; March 25, 2014; April 8, 2014; April 29, 2014; May 20, 2014; June 
3, 2014; and June 24, 2014 from 1 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. See 
Supplementary Information for details.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held in the Boardroom at the American 
Institute of Architects, 1735 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Verdi, National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Room 4725, Washington, DC 
20230; telephone (202) 482-8238; email [email protected]. Please 
direct media inquiries to NTIA's Office of Public Affairs, (202) 482-
7002; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: On February 23, 2012, the White House released Consumer 
Data Privacy in a Networked World: A Framework for Protecting Privacy 
and Promoting Innovation in the Global Digital Economy (the ``Privacy 
Blueprint'').\1\ The Privacy Blueprint directs NTIA to convene 
multistakeholder processes to develop legally enforceable codes of 
conduct that specify how the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights applies in 
specific business contexts.\2\ On July 12, 2012, NTIA convened the 
first multistakeholder process, in which stakeholders developed a code 
of conduct to provide transparency in how companies providing 
applications and interactive services for mobile devices handle 
personal data.\3\ On December 3, 2013, NTIA announced that the goal of 
the second multistakeholder process is to develop a code of conduct to 
protect consumers' privacy and promote trust regarding facial 
recognition technology in the commercial context.\4\ NTIA encourages 
stakeholders to address in the code all seven fair information practice 
principles enumerated in the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights.
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    \1\ The Privacy Blueprint is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/privacy-final.pdf.
    \2\ Id.
    \3\ NTIA, First Privacy Multistakeholder Meeting: July 12, 2012, 
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/other-publication/2012/first-privacy-multistakeholder-meeting-july-12-2012 NTIA, Privacy Multistakeholder 
Process: Mobile Application Transparency, http://www.ntia.doc.gov/other-publication/2013/privacy-multistakeholder-process-mobile-application-transparency.
    \4\ NTIA, Facial Recognition Technology, http://www.ntia.doc.gov/other-publication/2013/privacy-multistakeholder-process-facial-recognition-technology.
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    Matters to Be Considered: The February 6, 2014 meeting will be the 
first in a series of NTIA-convened multistakeholder discussions 
concerning facial recognition technology. Subsequent meetings will 
follow on February 25, 2014; March 25, 2014; April 8, 2014; April 29, 
2014; May 20, 2014; June 3, 2014; and June 24, 2014. Stakeholders will 
engage in an open, transparent, consensus-driven process to develop a 
code of conduct regarding facial recognition technology.
    The objective of the February 6, 2014, meeting is to convene a 
factual, stakeholder-driven dialogue regarding the technical 
capabilities and commercial uses of facial recognition technology. This 
dialogue will likely involve a series of discussion panels and Q&A 
sessions featuring knowledgeable stakeholders from industry, civil 
society, and academia. This first meeting is intended to provide 
stakeholders with factual background regarding how facial recognition 
technology is currently used by businesses, how the technology might be 
employed in the near future, and what privacy issues might be raised by 
the technology. NTIA will publish a draft agenda on December 20, 2013 
and a final agenda on January 17, 2014.
    The objectives of the February 25, 2014 meeting are: 1) Begin 
discussion among stakeholders concerning a code of conduct that sets 
forth privacy practices for facial recognition technology (this 
discussion may include circulation of straw-man drafts and discussion 
of the appropriate scope of a code); and 2) provide a venue for 
stakeholders to agree on the procedural work plan for the group (this 
might include establishing working groups, drafting procedures, and/or 
modifying the logistics of future meetings).
    The March 25, 2014; April 8, 2014; April 29, 2014; May 20, 2014; 
June 3, 2014; and June 24, 2014 meetings are intended to serve as 
venues for stakeholders to discuss, draft, revise, and finalize a 
privacy code of conduct that sets forth privacy practices for facial 
recognition technology. NTIA suggests that stakeholders consider 
``freezing'' the draft code of conduct after the June 24, 2014 meeting 
in order to facilitate external review of the draft.

[[Page 73503]]

Stakeholders would then likely reconvene the group in September to take 
account of external feedback. More information about stakeholders' work 
will be available at: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/other-publication/2013/privacy-multistakeholder-process-facial-recognition-technology.
    Time and Date: NTIA will convene meetings of the privacy 
multistakeholder process regarding facial recognition technology on 
February 6, 2014; February 25, 2014; March 25, 2014; April 8, 2014; 
April 29, 2014; May 20, 2014; June 3, 2014; and June 24, 2014, from 
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. The meeting dates and times are 
subject to change. The meetings are subject to cancelation if 
stakeholders complete their work developing a code of conduct. Please 
refer to NTIA's Web site, http://www.ntia.doc.gov/other-publication/2013/privacy-multistakeholder-process-facial-recognition-technology, 
for the most current information.
    Place: The meeting will be held in the Boardroom at the American 
Institute of Architects, 1735 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20006. The location of the meetings is subject to change. Please refer 
to NTIA's Web site, http://www.ntia.doc.gov/other-publication/2013/privacy-multistakeholder-process-facial-recognition-technology, for the 
most current information.
    Other Information: The meetings are open to the public and the 
press. The meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to John Verdi at (202) 482-8238 or 
[email protected] at least seven (7) business days prior to each 
meeting. The meetings will also be webcast. Requests for real-time 
captioning of the webcast or other auxiliary aids should be directed to 
John Verdi at (202) 482-8238 or [email protected] at least seven (7) 
business days prior to each meeting. There will be an opportunity for 
stakeholders viewing the webcast to participate remotely in the 
meetings through a moderated conference bridge, including polling 
functionality. Access details for the meetings are subject to change. 
Please refer to NTIA's Web site, http://www.ntia.doc.gov/other-publication/2013/privacy-multistakeholder-process-facial-recognition-technology, for the most current information.

    Dated: December 3, 2013.
Kathy Smith,
Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-29157 Filed 12-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P