What You Must Know to Avoid Becoming a Casualty of the Data User Wars.

Data ownership and privacy has always been a contentious topic in consumer services and mobile apps. Currently, it’s almost status quo for many Internet and mobile app companies to use personal data, not only to monetize, but also to develop products, build out customized features and improve other essential functions of their services. Without access to user data, many companies would have to change their entire business model. These days, some users aren’t just the targets for advertising, they are the advertising. The recent privacy fiasco by Instagram/Facebook has put the controversial issue and all its aspects front and center.

It’s no surprise then that a recent survey by Nielsen shows the vast majority (73% in 2012) expressing concern over personal data collection and 55 percent wary of sharing information about their location via smartphone apps.

The FTC is starting to apply more heat, recently penalizing Path (almost $1 million dollars) as well as Facebook and Google each for violating user privacy violations. The FTC has also recently strengthened its enforcement of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), shoring up the protections, including bringing geolocation, cookies (plug-ins) and behavioral targeting explicitly within the rules.  Set to go into effect, July 1, 2013, these amendments have particularly critical implications for mobile app developers, ad networks and social networking services.

This panel will explore various issues around privacy and discuss what entrepreneurs need to consider about users’ private information and digital content:

• What are the legal parameters around consumer data?
• How is online data bought, sold and shared?
• How does a startup negotiate the delicate balance of earning a profit, providing a meaningful service, and building a trusting relationship with users?
• Should users have a say in the privacy policy, any changes to it, and when?
• What avenues do users have to take control over their data and privacy?
• What is the best way to talk to users about proposed privacy or TOS changes?
  

Join us for an evening of lively point/counterpoint discussion moderated by Rafe Needleman. An esteemed panel of industry experts will offer invaluable perspectives that entrepreneurs need to know on this key topic. The event will conclude with an open Q&A to give attendees an opportunity to exchange ideas with the panel.

Moderator:  Rafe Needleman, Platform Advocate, Evernote

Panelists: 

Matt Hogan, CEO, DataCoup

Brian Hayden Pascal, Fellow, Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society

Mary Hodder, Co-founder, Customer Commons

Ted Hollifield, Partner, Alston & Bird

This event includes refreshments as well as a chance to mix and mingle with other entrepreneurs, VCs and movers and shakers from SF/Silicon Valley.