The ideal privacy officer doesn't choose between the agency and the public, ... In the end, he works for the executive branch.

At the risk of heresy, I want to ask a simple question: Why? Why are we having these hearings? After all, there is little doubt that Roberts will be confirmed. ... Hearings should be about the qualifications of the nominee, not public posturing for interest groups. Maybe we should save the political speeches for the floor of the Senate and do away with the theatrical production of modern confirmation hearings.

We found that privacy is a much less mature area in government, and there is less progress to report. Fewer agencies have addressed [privacy programs] as a priority ... the security programs [are] a bit more mature [and have been] addressed over a long period of time.

What they're doing is identifying their target market and asking what they can do that's relevant. They're asking, 'Can I make it a destination, like you'd make a theme park?' You're trying to create an experience and make them become loyal customers, and promotions are a great way of extending that involvement.

I believe in a zone of privacy.

Some of the companies did it tremendously well - they put very strong privacy policies into place. They never share your data, never do anything you don't tell them to do and allow people to opt in.