Get Your Ears On…

…And we're not talking about mouse ears. Get ready to hear from the three major U.S. presidential campaigns at this month's IAPP Privacy Academy at Disney World. Representatives from the McCain and Obama campaigns, and Libertarian candidate Bob Barr will take the stage to discuss privacy.

Get a leg up on the discussion. Here is an overview of what each candidate has divulged so far:

Bob Barr
According to his Web site, Barr wants to reverse the privacy-related damages made by the current administration by "defending, rather than undermining," our free society. He would uphold the Fourth Amendment by limiting governmental search and seizure and would also limit governmental powers to a level consistent with the Constitution. For Barr, government accountability is key. As president he would hold officials accountable for their actions.

 Find out more at: www.bobbarr2008.com/issues/privacy-surveillance/.

John McCain (represented by Orson Swindle)
John McCain believes the U.S. government must help usher in secure technologies and safe computing practices to help establish a culture of greater personal security. He believes an environment of self-regulation will both protect consumers and ensure marketplace agility. McCain says consumer education, technological innovation and increased law enforcement will help see a safer digital era for Americans, and feels government, industry, parents, schools and children all have a part to play in establishing a culture of personal security.

 Find out more at: www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/975d6a22-2c5f-43b4-a083-1616bc2c4bc3.htm.

Barack Obama (represented by Christine Varney)
Obama says as president, he would strengthen privacy protections and would hold government and industry accountable for privacy violations. He supports restrictions on how information may be used and technological safeguards to keep those restrictions in check. As president, Obama would update surveillance laws; ensure that intelligence gathering is conducted appropriately; work to protect against misuses of sensitive information not covered within sector-specific privacy laws, and would increase the Federal Trade Commission's enforcement budget.

Find out more at: www.barackobama.com/index.php.