Following on the heals of a publicized judicial ruling prohibiting a debt collector from using Facebook or other social media to locate a debtor (http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/09/2106171/judge-debt-agency-cant-contact.html#ixzz1G8yc50zM), the FTC announced that it would “hold a public workshop on April 28, 2011, to address consumer protection issues that have arisen as debt collectors avail themselves of advances in technology. The workshop will explore developments in technology that debt collectors use to gather, store, and manage information about consumers; to comply with the law; to communicate with consumers; and to receive payment. The workshop will provide an opportunity for government regulators, industry members, technologists, consumer advocates, and researchers, to discuss the costs and benefits of these technologies for debt collectors and consumers. It will also address whether and how collectors may use such technologies consistent with applicable laws, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Section 5 of the FTC Act, what consumer protection concerns arise from use of these technologies, and what actions, if any, the Commission and other policymakers should take to respond to those concerns.” The FTC’s Notice, soliciting comment, is published in the Federal Register here.