Dive Brief:

• FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez announced the agency will host the first PrivacyCon later this year.

• The event will bring together academics, researchers, industry reps, consumer advocates, and government regulators to discuss the role of data collection for businesses.

• The announcement came shortly after the FTC won a federal case that confirmed its broad oversight on data security.

Dive Insight:

The FTC wants to find a balance between allowing innovation and protecting privacy, Ramirez said, so it’s looking for help from the industry. 

"Policymakers need to ensure that privacy is respected while innovation flourishes, and technology academics and researchers are crucial to hitting that sweet spot," she said.

The fact that the FTC just won a federal case that confirmed its broad oversight on data security has some technology innovators concerned. But Ramirez said that she wants all stakeholders to have a seat at the table.

"Our goal is to make PrivacyCon a premiere privacy research event that will help us advance our understanding of security and privacy issues for the digital age," she said. "PrivacyCon is just one step on the road to creating a continuing dialogue with the technology and research community."