FTC Names New Privacy Chief
Jessica Rich, who has served since 1998 as an assistant director in the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, has been promoted to acting associate director for the division of privacy and identity protection. She previously worked in the division of financial practices. During her tenure at the agency, she has worked on a variety of matters related to consumer privacy and data security, including investigations, enforcement, rulemakings, workshops, reports, and testimony to Congress. Prior to her appointment as assistant director, Rich served as a legal advisor in the bureau and before that was an attorney in private practice in New York City.
The Center for Digital Democracy's Jeff Chester said Rich is "deeply interested" in privacy and her promotion is a sign that new Consumer Protection Bureau Director David Vladeck, who started this week, "takes privacy and online marketing issues seriously." Chester said the appointment of both officials "means this issue is awakened after a long digital Rip Van Winkle-like slumber." CDD has repeatedly urged the FTC to bolster its activity in the privacy arena. Online and mobile commerce represents a new and expanding marketplace for which the ground rules of competition and marketing are still being formulated, Chester and other watchdogs said in a recent letter to President Obama.


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