Cobun Zweifel-Keegan
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cobun.bsky.social
Cobun Zweifel-Keegan
@cobun.bsky.social
1.8K followers 1.1K following 140 posts
Privacy, data protection, AI governance. Translating policy to practice. Some friction is good friction. D.C. policy lawyer by day, Colorado forest creature by night. (he / him)
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cobun.bsky.social
We can finally settle the debate: "crypto" means cryptozoology!

Greetings from Portland, Maine with @nullset.bsky.social
Cobun and Eric in front of a Sasquatch at the international cryptozoology museum.
June 7, 2025 at 6:35 PM
cobun.bsky.social
Bezos take the wheel
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/b...
Amazon Said to Make a Bid to Buy TikTok in the U.S.
April 2, 2025 at 4:47 PM
cobun.bsky.social
Congrats,Tom! Looking forward to seeing the next chapter for the CPPA!
@tomkemp00.bsky.social
Press release: California Privacy Protection Agency names Tom Kemp as Executive Director (March 14, 2025)
March 14, 2025 at 7:31 PM
cobun.bsky.social
Another insightful edition of Privacy Papers for Policymakers is underway. Thanks for bringing us together, @futureofprivacy.bsky.social!
March 12, 2025 at 11:02 PM
cobun.bsky.social
Private rights of action for privacy laws?

Yes! says Senator Hawley, R-Mo., on NPR this morning ...
www.npr.org/2025/02/27/n...
Leila Fadel: Senator, I want to start with a longtime issue for you. Big Tech's access to private data of American citizens. Meta, OpenAI, Amazon, Google, X. Are you pushing for more specific regulations on these companies? Sen. Josh Hawley: I think the fact that they can take our data without our knowledge, they can sell it without our permission, they can market it without our control — all of these are huge problems. We should give every single American the right to go to court and to sue these companies when they violate our property rights, when they take it from us without our consent and without any form of compensation. And also when they harm our children, when our kids are exposed to sexually exploitative material, we ought to be able to go to court and sue these companies. Right now, we can't. And that needs to change.
February 27, 2025 at 4:53 PM
cobun.bsky.social
Your FTC history lesson for the week iapp.org/news/a/a-vie...
February 22, 2025 at 12:01 AM
cobun.bsky.social
The Hill reporting on advocates concerns that Big Tech regulation momentum will slow... including for kids' safety and #privacy proposals.
thehill.com/policy/techn...
At one point, two of the leaders — Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel — apologized to the families of children who died or were seriously harmed because of social media. Some advocates and families appreciated the move, hoping changes might unfold in the coming months. But by the end of last year, much of the legislation on kids’ online safety failed to make it past the finish line amid pushback, largely from the House. Meanwhile, tech executives now seem closer than ever to the White House orbit, stoking advocates’ concerns that they could have President Trump’s ear regarding their business interests.
February 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM
cobun.bsky.social
Never tire of hot tiger tummies
January 24, 2025 at 3:21 AM
cobun.bsky.social
South Korea joins the chat iapp.org/news/a/south...
January 16, 2025 at 8:22 PM
cobun.bsky.social
Ranking Member Pallone similarly focused on energy and jobs in his opening remarks. He did, however, give some insights into the issue areas the new Dems on the committee care most about:
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York has been a strong advocate for addressing the climate crisis and fighting to create a more just economy. Representative Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts is in his third term. He’s prioritized promoting clean energy, lowering health care costs, and ending gun violence. Representative Troy Carter of Louisiana has focused on environmental justice, mental health, and health equity during his four years in the House. Representative Rob Menendez of New Jersey has pushed to modernize our nation’s crumbling infrastructure and increasing affordability for American families. Representative Kevin Mullin of California has fought to strengthen climate resilience and to build an economy that works for everyone. Representative Greg Landsman of Ohio has been a strong advocate for children and families over his entire career, including his two years in Congress. And Representative Jennifer McClellan of Virginia is also in her second term in the House and has focused on combating the climate crisis and preserving reproductive health care.
January 15, 2025 at 4:14 PM
cobun.bsky.social
New House E&C Chair Guthrie's opening remarks for the organizational meeting of the committee (the first committee meeting of the term) do not mention privacy or youth safety, and give only a passing mention to AI regulation with a focus on ensuring rapid innovation:
ENABLING TECHNOLOGICAL LEADERSHIP “American leadership must extend into the development and deployment of emerging technologies. By removing burdensome regulations and encouraging innovation, we will make sure that our economy can outcompete the Chinese Communist Party. “Our leadership in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and wireless technologies will create jobs and unlock a generation of growth and prosperity.
January 15, 2025 at 4:06 PM
cobun.bsky.social
Time to read some Congressional tea leaves, including your favorite hits:
♻️ Republicans keep mashing that hashtag#privacy reset button
🎙️ Senator Cruz has a podcast (!)
👀 AOC is joining E&C (!!)
🥸 House subcommittees keep changing their names (??)
📈 AI innovation for days
iapp.org/news/a/a-vie...
B&W photo of a night-time scene with a giant light-up winter star resting in Franklin Park, illuminating a snowy landscape, with the Washington Post building in the background.
January 10, 2025 at 5:58 PM
cobun.bsky.social
Y'all I really want people to understand how significant the DOJ data security rules are for cross-border #privacy operations. Here's some analysis of the final rule. iapp.org/news/a/a-vie...
January 3, 2025 at 9:43 PM
cobun.bsky.social
Exactly 50 years ago, as each lengthening night brought the U.S. closer to the end of 1974, it was a time of transition and immense uncertainty for the country....

My final column of the year turned into a reflection on the Privacy Act of 1974:
iapp.org/news/a/a-vie...
December 13, 2024 at 7:45 PM
cobun.bsky.social
It's true, anyone can cook. I made lasagna soup!
December 8, 2024 at 1:23 AM
cobun.bsky.social
This part stopped me in my tracks because it perfectly captures how different this is from the usual memes and shitposting.
Even on Facebook, a platform where people do not commonly hide behind pseudonyms, the somber announcement by UnitedHealth Group that it was “deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague” was met with, as of this writing, 80,000 reactions; 75,000 of them were the “haha” emoji.
December 7, 2024 at 4:34 PM
cobun.bsky.social
My thoughts on the big wave of #location #privacy enforcement this year, especially the four settlements from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. iapp.org/news/a/a-vie...
December 6, 2024 at 8:09 PM
cobun.bsky.social
Looks like a great discussion from ITIF next week on "How Should Congress Keep Children Safe Online?" featuring all the top voices in the youth safety / privacy policy space: itif.org/events/2024/... @baileysanchez.bsky.social
December 3, 2024 at 3:53 PM
cobun.bsky.social
Big things happening in Australia and the Privacy Commissioner sums it up well, including the #privacy tensions with the social media ban that also just passed. Original post: www.linkedin.com/in/carly-kin...
December 2, 2024 at 8:10 PM
cobun.bsky.social
Well, no matter who the "AI Czar" is it's clear they will need four arms to keep up (just as Copilot imagines it here)... Anyway Axis says the Trump administration might create such a position:

www.axios.com/2024/11/26/t...
Microsoft Copilot generated image using the prompt: imagine a stylized version of a US government position known as the "AI Czar". A humanoid robot with four arms and stylized gears all over its body looks a bit like a Kennedy and is dressed in American flag covered suits with two big flags flying behind.
November 26, 2024 at 6:41 PM
cobun.bsky.social
Haha here's a better representation!
Brussels city center. A statue of a man on horseback is backlit by the rising sun and reflected in a large puddle. The morning light touches the tops of buildings with a clear winter sky behind.
November 20, 2024 at 11:25 AM
cobun.bsky.social
Next to the main stage is Marietje Schaake @marietjeschaake.bsky.social

She opens with a slide on the "century-defining election in the U.S." illustrating the power of private companies to shape policies.

This reflects the ongoing "Tech Coup" which she believes is deeply harming democracy.
Marietje Schaake on the DPC main stage, turning to point to her slide, which features Donald Trump with a caption "Waking up to the tech coup"
November 20, 2024 at 9:59 AM
cobun.bsky.social
As is tradition, Commissioner Reynders is kicking off DPC. @ec.europa.eu

Privacy issues remain relevant despite the increasingly interconnected digital regulatory landscape.

"All of this requires innovative thinking, multidisciplinary solutions and novel forms of cross-regulatory cooperation."
Commissioner Reynders speaking at the podium of Data Protection Congress main stage.
November 20, 2024 at 9:19 AM
cobun.bsky.social
Okay let's go! Here's a thread of key moments and takeaways from IAPP's Data Protection Congress in Brussels! (As they happen and so long as I can remember to post!) It's actually sunny in Brussels today 😲
Cobun stands in front of the Brussels conference venue in a winter jacket and wearing a tie with a print of eyeballs and other surveillance themes.
November 20, 2024 at 9:10 AM
cobun.bsky.social
Hi Brussels 👋
A lone piece of luggage waits on the platform with the stark reds and faded whites of the Brussels IC Train. The digital display shows the next train to Brussel-Zuid, underneath a large analog clock.
November 19, 2024 at 5:20 PM