Introductory Essay for '2004 Privacy Law Year in Review'
11 Pages Posted: 11 Nov 2005
Date Written: November 2005
Abstract
This essay introduces the first edition of a new annual review of privacy law. The Privacy Year in Review series is published by I/S: A Journal of Law and Policy for the Information Society, published in partnership by the Moritz College of Law of the Ohio State University and the Heinz School of Carnegie Mellon University. The Privacy Year in Review has been adopted by the International Association of Privacy Professionals for distribution to all of its over 2,000 members.
The essay describes the main themes of five chapters that we expect to produce each year, on medical privacy, financial privacy, Internet privacy, government data collection, and international (non-U.S.) topics. Each year we also have special topics, which in this edition cover VoIP and Privacy, biometrics, RFIDs, and the privacy torts. This year's volume is about 450 pages, and subscriptions are now available.
Our goal has been to develop a trustworthy, non-ideological, and clearly written annual review of developments in privacy law. The format seeks to serve both experts in each sub-field and people who are looking at a topic for the first time. Each article has a clear table of contents. Each article introduces the key legal materials, such as HIPAA or the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, so that persons who are inexperienced in that area can get a basic orientation. The article also provides more detailed analysis and citations for recent developments.
The essay, by the Faculty Editor, describes the growing professionalization of privacy law in the United States in recent years. Chief privacy officers and privacy compliance have spread through many public and private institutions, and few persons are able to stay current on the multiple sub-fields that have developed. A goal of Privacy Year in Review is to create an annual volume that will serve as a handy reference for all those wishing to understand developments in privacy law.
Keywords: privacy, security
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation