Julie Brill

American lawyer

Julie Brill
Brill at Microsoft's Redmond campus, July 2017
Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission
In office
April 6, 2010 – March 31, 2016
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byPamela Jones Harbour
Succeeded byNoah J. Phillips
Personal details
Born
Julie Simone Brill

(1959-03-12) March 12, 1959 (age 65)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
EducationPrinceton University (BA)
New York University School of Law (JD)

Julie Simone Brill (born March 12, 1959)[1] is an American lawyer who serves as Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Vice President for Global Privacy, Safety and Regulatory Affairs at Microsoft.[2] Prior to her role at Microsoft, Brill was nominated by President Barack Obama on November 16, 2009, and confirmed unanimously by the US Senate to serve as Commissioner of the US Federal Trade Commission on March 3, 2010.[3][4] Brill served as a Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from 2010 to 2016.

Early life and education

Brill was born in Houston, Texas on March 12, 1959.[5] In 1977, Brill graduated from Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey, and was later inducted into the school's hall of fame in 2012.[6] Brill graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree (B.A.) in economics from Princeton University. In 1985, she received her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the New York University School of Law as a Root-Tilden-Kern scholar.[5][7]

Government career

Offices of State Attorneys General

From 1988 to 2008, Brill served in the Vermont Attorney General's office as Assistant Attorney General for Consumer Protection and Antitrust. She worked to coordinate with other states as co-chair of the Privacy Working Group at the National Association of Attorneys General.[8][9] In 1991, she and her staff discovered hundreds of Vermont residents were incorrectly identified as having tax liens against them by a consumer credit reporting agency,[10] leading to a major settlement with the credit reporting industry. Brill testified in Congress about these issues,[11] and ultimately the Fair Credit Reporting Act was revised in 1996[12] based on problems discovered by Brill and others.[13]

From 2008-2010, Brill was Deputy Attorney General in charge of Consumer Protection and Competition in North Carolina, serving under then-Attorney General Roy Cooper.[14]

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

In 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Brill to replace Pamela Jones Harbour as a member of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).[15] Brill was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on March 3, 2010, and she was officially sworn in on April 6, 2010.[16][17] While at the FTC, Brill focused on the privacy implications of emerging technologies, including how personal data is gathered and used.[10][18]

During her tenure on the FTC, Brill actioned against technology companies for failing to secure personal data properly and supported additional protection for consumer data rights.[19] Brill advocated for the development of a "do not track" feature to allow Internet users to tell websites to stop tracking their online activities,[20] and created a "Reclaim Your Name" project to encourage more transparency within the data broker industry.[21] In 2014 she appeared on CBS 60 Minutes to discuss the data broker industry and what needs to change to provide more control for consumers.[22] That same year, Brill was honored with the International Association of Privacy Professionals 2014 Privacy Leadership Award.[23]

Commissioner Brill also has been named “one of the 50 most powerful people in healthcare”.[24] She advocated for effective antitrust enforcement in the healthcare and high-tech sectors. She wrote the Commission’s unanimous decision in ProMedica, dissolving the merger of two hospitals in Toledo, Ohio. Commissioner Brill’s ProMedica decision was upheld on appeal by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.[25] She also dissented from the Commission’s decision to allow two Pharmacy Benefit Manager companies to merge because the merger would likely increase the cost of healthcare, an issue that the FTC began to investigate in 2023.[26][27]  

Additional matters that Brill was involved in at the FTC included the $22.5 million settlement with Google over its circumvention of Safari browser privacy settings in 2012,[28] the $1.2 billion settlement with Teva Pharmaceuticals over its pay-for-delay agreements with generic drug makers in 2015,[29] and the $1 billion settlement with Qualcomm over its anticompetitive licensing practices in 2019.[30]

Brill also led the development of several policy initiatives and reports at the FTC, including The Data Broker report in 2014,[31] The Internet of Things report in 2015,[32] and The Big Data report in 2016.[33]

Brill left office on March 31, 2016, after serving six years. Her seat was later filled in 2018 by Noah J. Phillips, a Republican.[34]

Post-government career

Microsoft

In the summer of 2017, Brill joined Microsoft.[35] She currently serves as chief privacy officer[36] and corporate vice president of global privacy, safety, and regulatory affairs. In this role, she leads the company's work in privacy, digital safety, regulatory governance, law enforcement and national security, telecom, standards, and accessibility regulation.[37][38]

At Microsoft, Brill led the launch of the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard in 2018, a web-based tool that allows customers to access, manage, and delete their personal data across Microsoft's products and services.[39] Brill has also advocated for the adoption of a federal privacy law in the United States that would provide consistent and comprehensive protections for consumers and businesses alike. Brill testified before the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation.[40]

Brill spearheads Microsoft's internal compliance with applicable privacy laws and regulations around the world, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States.[41] She also oversees the implementation of Microsoft's privacy principles and practices across its products and services, such as giving customers more control over their personal data and being transparent about how it is collected and used.[42]

Brill also leads Microsoft's engagement with regulators and policy makers on various issues that affect the tech industry and society at large, such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, cybersecurity, digital trade, and human rights.[43]

Boards

Julie Brill as active in civil society, serving as a board member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals,[44] a board member of the IAPP AI Governance Center Advisory Board,[45] a board member of the Center for Democracy and Technology,[46] and a Governor for The Ditchley Foundation.[47] She was also elected to the American Law Institute in 2013.[48]

Additional recognition

Brill received the New York University School of Law Alumna of the Year Award in 2014.[49] In 2014 she received the Privacy Leader of the Year Award from the International Association of Privacy Professionals.[21] She was also named "the Commission's most important voice on internet privacy and data security issues"[50] and a Top Data Privacy Influencer in 2020.[51]

See also

References

  1. ^ "HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS - DECEMBER 15, 2009" (PDF). GovInfo. December 15, 2009. p. 11.
  2. ^ "Julie Brill LinkedIn".
  3. ^ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 11/16/2009". whitehouse.gov. November 16, 2009. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  4. ^ "PN1180 - Julie Simone Brill - Federal Trade Commission". Congress.gov.
  5. ^ a b "Julie Brill, Commissioner". Federal Regulatory Directory. Thousand Oaks, CA: CQ Press, 16th edition, 2014, p. 241.
  6. ^ Mann, Mary (May 29, 2015). "Zach Braff Inducted Into Columbia High School Hall of Fame". The Village Green.
  7. ^ "Alumna of the Month November 2010". New York University School of Law.
  8. ^ McConnell, Bill (September 4, 2012). "Q&A with the FTC's Julie Brill By Bill McConnell" (PDF). The Deal. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  9. ^ Institute, The American Law. "Members". American Law Institute. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Golden, Hallie (July 8, 2015). "Defending The Digital Consumer". Government Executive. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  11. ^ "Federal Trade Commissioner Julie Brill '85 delivers Abrams Lecture (VIDEO) | NYU School of Law". www.law.nyu.edu. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  12. ^ "The Consumer Credit Reporting Reform Act of 1996 | NCUA". ncua.gov. October 1, 1997. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  13. ^ "Alumna of the Month November 2010 | NYU School of Law". www.law.nyu.edu. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  14. ^ "President Nominates Local Attorney to Federal Trade Commission". www.metnews.com. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  15. ^ "President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 11/16/2009". whitehouse.gov. November 16, 2009. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  16. ^ "Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate, 11/17/09". whitehouse.gov. November 17, 2009. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  17. ^ "Julie Brill". Federal Trade Commission. June 7, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  18. ^ Selinger, Evan; Hartzog, Woodrow (April 15, 2015). "Why you have the right to obscurity". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  19. ^ Brill, Julie (September 8, 2013). "Regulators Must Guide the Internet of Things". The New York Times. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  20. ^ "Stage set for online privacy showdown". The Miami Herald. November 11, 2010. p. 2B. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  21. ^ a b Bracy, Jedidiah (March 10, 2014). "Knocking Down Silos and Weaving the Tapestry: A Look at the Priorities of FTC Commissioner Julie Brill". The IAPP. International Association of Privacy Professionals. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  22. ^ "The Data Brokers: Selling your personal information". 60 Minutes. CBS News. March 9, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  23. ^ "FTC Commissioner Julie Brill Honored with International Association of Privacy Professionals 2014 Privacy Leadership Award". Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  24. ^ "50 of the most powerful people in healthcare | 2015". www.beckershospitalreview.com. December 8, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  25. ^ "Julie Brill". Federal Trade Commission. June 7, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  26. ^ Brill, Julie (April 2, 2012). "DISSENTING STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER JULIE BRILL CONCERNING THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF MEDCO HEALTH SOLUTIONS INC. (MEDCO) BY EXPRESS SCRIPTS, INC. (ESI)" (PDF). Ftc.gov. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  27. ^ "Federal Trade Commission Statement Concerning Reliance on Prior PBM-Related Advocacy Statements and Reports That No Longer Reflect Current Market Realities" (PDF). Ftc.gov. November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  28. ^ "Google Will Pay $22.5 Million to Settle FTC Charges it Misrepresented Privacy Assurances to Users of Apple's Safari Internet Browser". Federal Trade Commission. August 9, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  29. ^ Leibowitz, Jon; Rosch, J. Thomas; Ramirez, Edith; Brill, Julie (October 11, 2011). "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BEFORE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION In the Matter of TEVA PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LTD., a corporation; and CEPHALON, INC, a corporation" (PDF). Ftc.gov. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  30. ^ Mueller, Eingestellt von Florian. "BREAKING NEWS: Federal Trade Commission wins antitrust case against Qualcomm in Northern District of California". Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  31. ^ "Statement of Commissioner Brill on the Commission's Data Broker Report". Federal Trade Commission. May 27, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  32. ^ Brill, Julie (May 4, 2015). "Data Protection and the Internet of Things U.S. Federal Trade Commissioner Julie Brill Keynote Address for EuroForum European Data Protection Days" (PDF). Ftc.gov. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  33. ^ Ramirez, Edith; Brill, Julie; Ohlhausen, Maureen K.; McSweeny, Terrell (January 2016). "Big Data: A tool for inclusion or exclusion? Understanding the issues FTC Report" (PDF). Ftc.gov. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  34. ^ "The Trump FTC and the Internet". Benton Foundation. March 2, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  35. ^ Blogs, Microsoft Corporate (April 28, 2017). "Microsoft appoints globally respected regulator to privacy leadership role". Microsoft On the Issues. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  36. ^ "The Google Files: Power players". politico.com. March 16, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  37. ^ "Microsoft's Stahlkopf Jumps to Cisco as Chief Legal Officer". bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  38. ^ ""We need to ensure children's rights are protected"". unicef.org. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  39. ^ Brill, Julie (September 17, 2018). "Millions use Microsoft's GDPR privacy tools to control their data — including 2 million Americans". Microsoft On the Issues. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  40. ^ Brill, Julie (September 23, 2020). "Written Testimony of Julie Brill Former Commissioner of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Corporate Vice President, Chief Privacy Officer, and Deputy General Counsel for Global Privacy and Regulatory Affairs Microsoft Corporation Before the Committee of Commerce, Science, & Transportation United States Senate. Revisiting the Need for Federal Data Privacy Legislation". Commerce.Senate.Gov. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  41. ^ "Julie Brill – Privacy Symposium". Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  42. ^ "Data Protection with Microsoft Privacy Principles | Microsoft Trust Center". www.microsoft.com. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  43. ^ Executive interview Julie Brill, Microsoft | POLITICO, retrieved December 4, 2023
  44. ^ "International Association of Privacy Professionals". Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  45. ^ "AI Governance Center". Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  46. ^ "Board". Center for Democracy and Technology. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  47. ^ "Our Governors | Ditchley Foundation". www.ditchley.com. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  48. ^ Institute, The American Law. "The American Law Institute Elects 69 New Members". American Law Institute. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  49. ^ "Milbank Tweed Forum features a conversation with FTC Commissioner Julie Brill '85". NYU Law. March 3, 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  50. ^ Swift, Mike (June 10, 2014). "Profile: FTC's Brill emerges as key player in national, international regulation" (PDF). Ftc.gov. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  51. ^ dan (August 14, 2020). "The Top Data Privacy Influencers in 2020". Calligo. Retrieved December 11, 2023.

This article uses public domain material from the Federal Trade Commission Website.