Dive Brief:
- The FTC appointed Lorrie Cranor, who is currently a professor of computer science and engineering and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University, as its new chief technologist.
- Cranor also currently directs the CyLab Usable Privacy and Security Laboratory.
- Cranor will succeed Ashkan Soltani, the privacy expert who assumed the role in November 2014.
Dive Insight:
Cranor will join the FTC in January.
"I’m looking forward to participating in the great work the agency does in the areas of consumer privacy and data security," Cranor said.
Cranor's recent efforts have focused on the Usable Privacy Policy Project, usable and secure passwords, privacy decision making, user-controllable security and privacy and usable cyber trust indicators.
Cranor's appointment is also notable because of the technology industry's ongoing struggle with gender and diversity.
"She is an excellent choice and an outstanding example of the many capable and talented women technologists in the field today," said Elizabeth Ames, a senior vice president for the Anita Borg Institute. "It is particularly rewarding to see women of her caliber getting the recognition and opportunities that they deserve."
