Churchill Club - Event Detail - Personalization versus Privacy: Balancing Business and Customer Interests (p.m.)

- An Evening with Reed Hastings, in Conversation with Michael Eisner (Premier Event)

- Churchill Breakfast Club: Innovation & Change, a "New Normal" for the Legal Industry?

Monday, September 8, 2008

Personalization versus Privacy: Balancing Business and Customer Interests (p.m.)

Speakers:
Peter Cullen, Chief Privacy Strategist, Microsoft
Jim Dempsey, Vice President for Public Policy, Center for Democracy & Technology
Joanne McNabb, Chief, California Office of Privacy Protection
Nicole Wong, Deputy General Counsel, Google

Moderator:
Patrick Carome, Partner, WilmerHale

Perhaps no topic is more controversial in our increasingly digital lifestyle than that of privacy. An expectation of privacy would seem a fundamental right, yet as more of our lives play out online, this expectation needs to be continually revisited. What rights and responsibilities do corporations have relative to collection and use of personal information? What about the rights and responsibilities of individuals? What are the threats and opportunities on both sides of the equation? These are a few of the topics that will be discussed by industry giants Microsoft, Google, and others…

This is the second of four programs on Technology and Society sponsored by:

One of the most compelling aspects of the digital space is the opportunity to offer unique user experiences including interactive marketing and personalized advertising. As more and more personal data is collected, web users welcome “smarter” search results and customized interactions. But there are trade-offs.

As the technology evolves that can track a user’s every move—from sites visited, items purchased, and articles read to who you email and where you live—detailed consumer profiles can be created and sold. There is a lot at stake; online advertising was a $21 billion business last year and the more closely advertising is connected to user behavior, the higher the sales.

Anyone doing business on the Web is faced with important decisions regarding the use and disclosure of the personal information collected from online customers and visitors. How can companies effectively integrate user data collection and its potential for increased sales with the opportunity to build brand loyalty through ethical corporate policies? What are the practices and policies of the companies who are best balancing this tightrope?

This panel representing a broad range of viewpoints will also discuss and debate: Is self-regulation effective or should the government step in? What should consumers do to protect their online privacy? As technology evolves, where are the future opportunities and dangers?