WASHINGTON, D.C. –

Federal Trade Commission officials recently announced they will host a public workshop to examine how debt collectors are using new technologies and how this affects consumers.

The workshop, titled “Debt Collection 2.0: Protecting Consumers as Technologies Change,” will feature consumer advocates, industry representatives, technologists, academics and government officials. It’s set for April 28.

As noted in the FTC’s Federal Register notice available here, the new technologies available to debt collectors include mobile telephones, e-mail, social media, information gathering tools and the software platforms that collectors use, such as dialers, databases and payment portals.

The FTC said the workshop discussion will focus on how collectors use these technologies, consumer protection concerns that arise and how policymakers should respond to those concerns.

This workshop will be free and open to the public and will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the FTC’s Satellite Building Conference Center at 601 New Jersey Ave., N.W. in Washington, D.C. Those who attend must present government-issued photo identification.

Officials explained the FTC will identify and invite persons with relevant expertise to serve as panelists. Those who would like to be panelists can submit a request in response to the Federal Register notice. Requests should be sent to [email protected] and must be received on or before 5 p.m. EST on March 22.

Furthermore, officials pointed out interested parties are welcome to submit relevant written comments or data, which will be placed on the public record. The commission has strongly encouraged submissions in electronic format.

Comments in electronic form should be submitted by using this Web link: https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/debtcollecttechworkshop. Users can then follow the instructions on the Web-based form.

“Please consult the Federal Register notice for further information, including details on topics to be covered and instructions for submitting comments,” officials stressed.

“To be considered in preparation for the workshop, comments must be received by April 7, although the commission will accept comments through May 27,” they added.

More information, including an agenda and panelist biographies, will be posted on the FTC’s website at www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/debtcollectiontech/index.shtml.