From: "Brett Burney" brburney@usa.net Advisory Committee on Online Access & Security - Nomination, P004807 To Secretary, Federal Trade Commission First I would just like to say that I am pleased that the Federal Trade Commission is once again taking a leading role in the protection of consumers on the Internet. Open communication is the unique and unifying quality of the Internet and this Advisory Committee will play the important role of helping to implement fair rules and boundaries for cyberspace. I am a third year law student and my primary fields of legal interest are Internet Law / CyberLaw. I strive daily to keep myself updated about all aspects of the Internet * everything from the latest CERT Advisory, to Jeff Bezos* recent announcement that Amazon.com is supposed to turn a profit by the end of 2000. The Internet will become the single most important source of commerce, information, and communication; I believe this and I am proud to know that agencies such as the FTC are taking the lead in preparing for the inevitability of cyberspace. But there are many questions and issues and concerns that must be addressed and discussed as the Internet becomes more commonplace. There must be a search for the proper compromises that need to be made between freedom & regulation and I am committed to this search. While in law school, I have concentrated my studies by taking classes such as Cyberspace Law, Protection of Computers & Software, and Electronic Commerce. But I do not limit myself to stuffy classrooms* In the Summer of 1998, I helped to launch the Cybercrimes website here at the University of Dayton School of Law. (Curiously enough, we are located at http://www.cybercrimes.net, and I have noticed that http://www.cybercrime.net (singular) has in the past pointed to the official FTC website.) I currently maintain, design, and conduct research for the website which includes conducting daily searches for Cybercrime related news. One of the main purposes of the Cybercrimes website is to host the Cybercrimes Seminar taught by our Associate Dean Susan Brenner. After the Seminar received official accreditation from the American Bar Association, the seminar students concentrated on writing and revising the Model State Computer Crimes Code. The Code is currently being examined by the Texas Attorney General*s Office and the office of Senator Mike DeWine. Being an online class, we are able to invite participants from the San Jose Police Department*s Hi-Tech Crime Investigations Unit, the Florida Association of Computer Crime Investigators, and the Illinois State Police Computer Crimes Investigation Unit. I also enjoy writing a weekly column for Law.com entitled the Student Cyber Corner. My columns focus on a variety of issues involving computers, cyberspace, and the law. Topics include *hacktivism,* Internet taxation, online elections, and cybersquatting. One of my recent columns focused on *pagejacking* and *mousetrapping* where I was grateful for the information posted on the FTC website concerning FTC v. Pereira. I have a great concern for the issues surrounding online privacy mainly because any legislation concerning the Internet will immediately affect my life and career. I know that these issues are important and that they need to be addressed as soon as possible. That is why I am excited about the actions of the FTC and this Advisory Committee. It may be impossible to keep up with the Internet and the rapidly changing technology but it is imperative that we discuss these issues and attempt to discover the answers to our many questions before it is too late. I feel I am at a position in my life right now that will allow me to bring a fresh and unique *hands-on* experience to a committee like this, plus my enthusiasm for this subject matter is insatiable. I would be honored to serve on this Advisory Committee and provide my input and experience into the matters that will mean so much to our physical world, and the world of cyberspace in the next few years. I have attached a copy of my resume in both Microsoft Word and Corel WordPerfect 8 formats. I also have a personal webpage located at http://homepages.udayton.edu/~burneybr. Please feel free to call or e-mail me if you have any further questions. Resume' [PDF] Brett Burney |