The Future of Internet Privacy Regulation

Please join the Mercatus Center's Capitol HIll Campus and Mercatus Senior Research Fellow Adam Thierer for a discussion on the future of Internet privacy regulation.

The Internet has revolutionized the way we live, work, and play. It's evolved, with relatively little oversight, to be an enormously powerful tool and a major factor in the world economy. But it has a seedier side. Large companies collect an enormous amount of data about Internet and gadget users and recent news has been filled with high profile breeches of private information.

Federal policy makers are considering a variety of Internet privacy regulations that would limit the collection of data about online Web surfers—data which, in turn, powers the online advertising engine that generally supports most online content and services. The debate is unfolding on multiple fronts—in Congress, within the Federal Trade Commission, and throughout the Obama administration more broadly.

The stakes in the debate are significant since regulation could fundamentally alter the nature of online commerce and the future of how digital content and services are provided.  In light of the importance of this debate to the Internet economy and the future of online content and digital services, this Mercatus Center event will look at the trade-offs involved as Washington looks to craft a new privacy regulatory regime for the Internet. 

This event is free and open to all Congressional, Executive Branch, and federal agency staff. This event is not open to the general public. Food will be provided. Due to space constraints, please no interns without prior approval. For any questions, please contact Aaron Merrill at amerril2@gmu.edu or (703) 993 7729.