From: AdWeek

Washington insiders Leibowitz and Bono Mack are co-chairs

By Katy Bachman

As privacy and data security heat up on Capitol Hill in the wake of news over the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs, a group of the nation’s largest telecommunications companies formed the 21st Century Privacy Coalition.

The coalition will be co-chaired by two big-name Washington insiders familiar with privacy and data security issues: former Federal Trade Commission chairman Jon Leibowitz of Davis Polk & Wardwell and former U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Mack of FaegreBD Consulting, who took on privacy and data security policy when she served as chairwoman of the subcommittee on commerce, manufacturing and trade.

Founding members of the new coalition include AT&T, Comcast, CTIA-The Wireless Association, Directv, Time Warner Cable, Verizon, and the U.S. Telecom Association.

The coalition will concentrate on updating U.S. privacy and security laws.

“Americans care enormously about privacy, and consumers always benefit when the rules of the road are clear and predictable,” Leibowtiz said. “Unfortunately, our Internet privacy laws are confusing to consumers and businesses alike.”