FOSI Briefs the Hill Privacy and Safety Bills: Feels a Bit Like Déjà Vu

For more than 40 years, Senator Markey has served the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a Congressman and U.S. Senator. He has been a national leader and author of some of the most important laws in the areas of energy, the environment, and telecommunications policy. On a bipartisan basis, he has passed more than 500 pieces of legislation into law. He has been a powerful and effective voice for enhancing energy efficiency, transitioning our economy to clean and sustainable energy resources and mitigating the consequences of climate change; bolstering U.S. and global security by staunching nuclear proliferation and promoting arms control; defending human rights; enacting financial reforms to protect consumers and investors against the types of abuses that directly triggered the global recession; ensuring the continued openness of the internet; and advancing the interests of consumers by injecting competitiveness into electric, telecommunications and telephone markets, and protecting the privacy of personal information.

Senator Markey currently serves as Chair of the Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, as well as the Chair of the Primary Health and Retirement Security Subcommittee on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. He is also a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the Small Business Committee.

Senator Markey received his B.A. from Boston College and his J.D. from Boston College Law School. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve and two terms in the Massachusetts State House before being elected to Congress.

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Ms. Fraser provides a deep understanding of the complexities of privacy issues and the marketplace challenges facing advertisers and brings extensive experience in the self-regulation space with a track record of helping companies do the right thing for consumers. Ms. Fraser has been instrumental in driving progress in a variety of organizational initiatives, including leading the organization’s first ever PrivacyCollective Roundtable, an event that brought together privacy experts to discuss issues facing the marketplace and craft solutions. She has also overhauled and expanded services provided by BBB National Programs’ Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU), growing membership and nearly doubling participant numbers for the CARU COPPA Safe Harbor program— the first FTC-approved Safe Harbor program.  Dona is a recipient of the 2023 Top Women in Media and Ad Tech Award for her work in leading best practices in the ever-changing landscape of privacy regulation. 

Katharina Kopp is a privacy and data justice advocate. She is the Deputy Director of the Center for Digital Democracy and Director for Policy, and has extensive experience as an advocate, scholar, policy analyst, privacy expert, coalition builder, communicator, convener, strategist, and corporate leader. At CDD she leads on various initiatives to explore how commercial data practices and technologies, particularly with regard to privacy, adversely affect individuals, groups, and society. The impact of classifying and predictive analytics on equity, autonomy, and the erosion of fairness and racial justice are of main concern to her. Central to her work is the goal to shape the public’s understanding of these impacts and to frame the remedies in terms of shared responsibilities and the need to address systemic causes. Dr. Kopp (CIPP/US, CIPP/G) worked with the Center for Media Education during the 1990’s and served as a key policy advocate during the passage and implementation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). In addition to her work with the Aspen Institute, the Benton Foundation, the Health Privacy Project, and the Center for Democracy and Technology, Dr. Kopp served as vice president at American Express, leading its global privacy risk management program. 

Dr. Kopp completed her Ph.D. and M.A. in communications and public policy at the University of Pennsylvania, Annenberg School for Communication, and graduated from the University of London, Queen Mary College. She lives in Washington, DC.  

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Mike Pappas is the CEO/Co-founder of Modulate, which works with studios like Activision, Riot Games, and Rec Room to foster safer and more inclusive online voice chat. Mike’s work at Modulate ranges from developing new partnerships within the industry, monitoring trends and new opportunities for Modulate’s unique technology to have a positive impact, and reinforcing an internal and external culture of passion, respect, and personal growth. Outside of work, his passions include creating themed cocktail lists, long-distance running, and playing Nintendo games.

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Andrew Zack is the Policy Manager for the Family Online Safety Institute, supporting policy and research work relating to online safety issues, laws, and regulations. He works with federal and state legislatures, relevant federal agencies, and industry leaders to develop and advance policies that promote safe and positive online experience for families.
Andrew joins FOSI after five years in Senator Ed Markey's office, where he worked primarily on education, child welfare, and disability policies. Andrew studied Government and Psychology at the College of William and Mary.