FTC Releases Agenda for September Workshop on Data Portability

The Federal Trade Commission has released the agenda for its September 22, 2020, workshop that will examine the potential benefits and challenges to consumers and competition raised by data portability.

Data portability gives consumers more control over their data, allowing them to move data—such as emails, contacts, calendars, financial information, health information, favorites, friends, or content posted on social media—from one service to another or to themselves.

Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, will give opening remarks, followed by a presentation from Peter Swire, the Elizabeth and Tommy Holder Chair of Law and Ethics at the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business. Ian Conner, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, will deliver closing remarks.

The workshop will also feature four panel discussions that will focus on: case studies on data portability rights in the European Union, India, and California; case studies on financial and health portability regimes; reconciling the benefits and risks of data portability; and the material challenges and solutions to realizing data portability’s potential.

The workshop, which starts at 8:30 a.m. ET, will be held online. Information about how to view the webcast will be released prior to the event.