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Suppose this could be viewed with a lazy perspective as pushing the envelope and expecting too much from Washington. Well, a common sense view would be to consider that Congress works for "The People," and putting their interest first. Furthermore, this is where citizens must draw the line and demand Congress snap out of their Shakespearean stage left performance and present a Privacy plan which protects the American people. The distinguished Senate Committee on the Judiciary recently held the hearing "Understanding the Digital Advertising Ecosystem and the Impact of Data Privacy and Competition Policy." The decorum was rather dignified, however not sure the topic of discussion will push forward with a national privacy plan before the next BIG DATA breach, mean reveal of the 2020 Presidential elections. Considering many American's entrust corporations with their most personal and sensitive information in a clear way they can understand it, it is only fare to allow consumers control over their own data. Some Senators did make common sense when presenting their questions to the prestigious panelist - Dr. Fiona M. Scott Morton, Ph.D., Brian O'kelley, Jan M. Rybnicek, Dr. Johhny Ryan, Ph.D., and Professor Avi Goldfarb. Could we consider Privacy data concerns to be on the same scale and magnitude as Constitutional rights? However, consumers data is what generates the companies revenue. The company still has no consideration for protecting the consumers data even after purchasing products and services. It appears the companies main focus is just suck the consumer dry of their data, monitor their locations for the best deals in the area for their last dollars. And give you a long list of words which translate as terms of service with the possibility to opt-out. Because of the misuse and abuse of consumer's data by UK company Cambridge Analytica, the strategy for social media Presidential campaigns, and campaigns in general has changed up. Moreover, the current issue of Nancy Pelosi speech in a not so favorable light has been the social media platform viral spread. Despite claims that the video has been modified, not sure the video will be packaged for propaganda push. But sure Pelosi doesn't want her not so favorable moments made mockery of, just as many consumers want their private text messages, and Whats App conversations protected, and locations not tracked and monitored. One concern is any potential long term harm for the DATA users and providers. Perhaps from the Cambridge Analytica data breach the long term harm for the user has not even started to generate any reports of harm. However, some data did show up in spreading discourse creating a divide among the American people. Furthermore, companies generated Ad revenue on platforms like Facebook and YouTube with disproportionate Ad revenue rates. Sure, this concern needs to be flushed out with more compassion and empathy to follow up with what happened to the consumers data. Privacy is valuable. So is innovation, and competition, but not at the price of consumer's data it isn't. The consumer must pay for the device, the service plan, along with agreeing to terms of use service. The consumer also has the capability to purchase third party applications from digital store. Now that party has the consumers data also. This can not be the only hub station for advertiser to obtain information. Perhaps the advertiser can pay the company which has already collected consumers vital data to create a generic profile for targeting ads. Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) suggest DATA is a different type of electricity. That is a rather innovative way to view it, however it doesn't create any Privacy regulations. He addressed his concern to the panel "the problem here is that Google and Facebook have misused their monopolist powers. It's not against the law to be BIG, it is against the law to misuse that power in a predatory way." Senator Blumenthal suggest what they have bought out innovators and suffocating competition and controlling the ecosystem, and supports antitrust enforcement and new privacy protections. Google collects data from Android, and YouTube while Facebook collects data from WhatsApp and Instagram. He also recognized that a lack of choice for privacy exist as well. It appears another challenge presented before law makers is how much of this regulation responsibility should be delegated to the FTC for enforcement and oversight? Should there be an independent body to oversee these privacy regulations and determine who should enforce them since Congress can't seem to figure out the task? Panelist Jan M. Rybnicek, Counsel stated that "no social media has an army," which is true. However, they sure store all the DATA for persons enlisted in the service, which use Facebook or any other social media platforms, but this shouldn't take away from privacy concerns. The consistency in jurisdiction for Privacy laws should not be a daunting task considering a national framework is necessary. Not sure if adopting the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) model or the California model will be implemented, but having something to present for mark ups is certainly a start. "To put it bluntly, the US is lagging behind," was Dr. Scott Morton's opening remarks during the hearing. Suppose it could've ended there, and companies go back to the drawing board with innovation and consumer privacy as its center focus, goals, and objectives. She suggest the laws no longer protect consumers in a market they should. Whether the product is old or new, antitrust enforcement isn't keeping up. This committee will have to decide if consumers and small business deserve the protection and vibrant competitive markets that deliver low prices and intense innovation was Dr. Scott Morton's suggestion. Business have taken a mustard seed faith approach to continue innovation in a constant growing digital economy, while antitrust laws haven't even lined up for a leap of faith, pushing for enforcement. Did these companies create products and services with no Privacy in mind, but strict use of consumer data and advertising strategies. Some advertising strategies are behavior based, constantly on, and consumer never separates from their smartphone. Not to factor in the cost of the advertising. Furthermore, if its close to campaign time it can get confusing. Some of the panelist agreed that Google's conduct, behavior and patterns deserves a proper antitrust investigation, but that may take decades to get rolling. Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) is ready for a bill to be marked up and it is time the Committee does something. "Can we agree that Google and Facebook are so BIG, they're no longer companies they are countries," Senator Kennedy asked the panelist. That question was a little over-the-top so Senator Kennedy ask "Are Google and Facebook in violation of Antitrust laws in the United States?" Suppose that was more of the panelist pallet preference of questions presented. Dr. Scott Morton suggest it would be great for someone to open an investigation, however she didn't have an opinion. Investigating these companies for antitrust violations was great, however not one panelist was willing to go on the record with their suggestions. Senator Kennedy asked "Are any of you willing to step up and say Facebook and Google should be broken up?" One panelist suggest that is a consumer choice and not the government, but in the mean time consumers need more choice for privacy protections beyond opting-out or hiding cookies. More articles
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If your work day didn't go so well, there is still hope! Especially if you have an invitation to attend "Concerts from the Library of Congress," for a conversation with Opera Icon Jessye Norman. The events usually don't require tickets, however when an Icon is coming to the city, seating is secured with "reservations are honored until five minutes before the beginning of the event," typed in fine print, at the bottom of the ticket.
After a train ride, in addition to a $6 fare taxi, I would soon be near the fountain facing the stairwell to enter the Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress. I was greeted with directions on where to enter the Coolidge Auditorium for an evening of elegance, inspiration, history, wisdom; and just simply the opportunity to be in the room, ready for a conversation with an American Icon from Augusta Georgia, changing the world through Arts, Education, and Culture. Here's what I captured: The conversation had started by the time I'd arrived in the Coolidge Auditorium, so my pen picked up at that moment Jessye Norman shared "Understanding from which this was something I would learn a great deal about what it means to participate as a full citizen in this world and too try to contribute to something and try to understand other countries, to try to understand the motherland. To try to understand Africa. What it must of been like, if one could imagine it?" To be walking on your own property and someone puts a net on you and placed on a ship. Jessye Norman pronounces and articulates language very well it ward hard to decipher her accent, however her words were spoken so eloquently especially when she acknowledge her ancestors. She expressed the things that her ancestors have gone through so that it would become possible for many and certainly lots of other African American's and musicians to say "yes, I will sing that, thank you very much, but I won't sing this." And that has come from a legacy of people who certainly decided not to bow down. Jessye couldn't imagine the difficulty of life in such situations, but some how survival was their golden key. It is very interesting to look at the hundreds of thousands of spirituals that were written by people who were learning a language for the first time. And being taught by people who were not very well educated, so they were not being taught the language properly. Certain plantations such as South Carolina, you can't really speak together, so you invent the drum to communicate with different areas and plantations. They would respond. The overseer says "wow" that's a form of communications so lets take that away. Raising 13 children, Norman's grandmother found comfort in the spirituals. The legacy of the music, she could tell her grandmother's mood, how she was thinking about things. Jessye stated "I find myself finding comfort just humming spirituals. It is in my DNA, it is there. It is inside of me and I am so grateful, can't begin to tell you. And it is important to know, in a spiritual, there is no thought of revenge, there is no thought of I'm going to get you." Jessye Norman began her professional Opera career, "if this had not happen to me," as a graduate student attending the University of Michigan. Where she received an invitation to come to New York because a very wealthy industrialist from Cincinnati has a wife who wanted to become a singer and learn about the Opera. That invitation was Jessye's start to her iconic voyage of the stages of Berlin Germany. She gave her music and sang her song, which was Arias accompanied by the brass family. It was so amazing the Director of the largest opera house in Germany told her "I like very much what you were doing," he had a performance date in December for Jessye and it was just May at the time. She learned the opera, had a coach and was sent to learn conversational German. A German role in the German Opera House, with other Germans, learning conversational German language was a great idea for Jessye Norman. "Very comfortable by the time December approached," Jessye shared, however she was unaware that at the time when you're learning an opera role, you must learn everyone's part at the same time. Ready to sing opera for the first time on a professional stage, Jessye knew little about rehearsal. She didn't ask for rehearsal on the actual stage. It was done on the rehearsal stage. At 24 years old Jessye Norman's career carried her from that rehearsal moment around the world singing opera being offered a contract since it was going so well. Jessye Norman does not sing in any language which she has not studied as a language. Hungarian is the only language she can't speak but read. She shared that there is some notion that singers are so busy and they have so much to do that studying language isn't necessary. "A sound, it's our way of communication." In order to get the music across, we have language, we have words, and if we don't know what the words mean how can you have the fun of changing the time? If you don't know where you are in the sentence, how can you have fun with it? "I would want my younger colleagues to understand if you're willing to put in the work, this success thing just may show itself. Preparation and opportunity equal success, nothing else." Jessye Norman now creates opportunity for children in Augusta Georgia through the Jessye Norman School of the Arts offering music performance, drama, dance, photography, pottery-making, and graphic art and free tuition. Currently in it fourteenth year. No extra sound bites were needed to accompany the introductory stage music as the Granicus panelist took to the stage in the Grand Ballroom to present. Dressed in a pink and grey pinstriped suit accompany with a pink tie, Jay Baer, President of Convince & Convert brought the morning cheer and delight and didn't disappoint. His sense of humor topped with his polished fashions, were a great mix to keep the attention of all those in attendance at the 2019 National Granicus Summit. The Grand Slam Summit was held at the JW Marriott Hotel on Pennsylvania Ave on Wednesday in Washington, DC. With a 7:30 a.m. kick-off start, off to registration then a sizzling hot breakfast, coffee, tea, or juice to fill up for a day filled with action pack panels and breakout sessions. Granicus empowers over 4,000 federal, state, and local government organizations to engage citizens and modernize processes. In an environment with increasing citizen expectations and limited resources, more government organizations have chosen Granicus than any other technology provider because they are dedicated to government outcomes. The Grand Ball Room was packed to capacity with audience members by show of hands if an empty chair was available for those standing along the wall to be seated, for a more engaging experience. This is my second time attending a Granicus event, and suppose the second time is the charm. What made this summit more special was the breakout session "Building Your Customer Journey," where we teamed up with partners for a solutions workshop. Our first team task was coming up with a team name, and since we both are women and wore glasses, "Women with a vision," was pleasantly fitting. Everyone in the room gathered and participated to form teams and engage in dialouge among the teams, take notes, and actually conducting a workshop with the tools in use. That breakout session was really great and I value the experience and networking opportunity to meet great people, so it was a GRAND SLAM GRANICUS SUMMIT in 2019. Here's a few notes from the summit: Digital transforming Government Communications Speaker: Mark Hynes, CEO, Granicus
Speaker, Shankar Vedantam, Hidden Brain Host, NPR
Speakers: Edward Reyelts, Michael Leahy, Bob Ainsbury
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