Speech privacy: New laws require changes in professional practice

We take privacy for granted but changing technology and heightened government security concerns have altered the landscape, putting privacy back in the headlines. Privacy laws like HIPAA, GLBA, and PIPEDA compete against tech‐based crimes like identify theft as well as security, laws like the Patriot Act, Homeland Security, and FISA. What constructive role can acoustics professionals play? Speech privacy is covered by most privacy laws, explicitly or implicitly—though enforcement procedures remain unclear. But, thanks to 50 years of research and standards development, a basis for objective, measurable enforcement of speech privacy exists and will soon be integrated into professional practice by the AIA. New policies and improved understanding by architects as well as legislators, regulators, judges, lawyers, and juries are beginning to stimulate demand for speech privacy engineering services including research, measurement, design, monitoring, site certification, expert testimony, and training. The TCAAN joint subcommittee on speech privacy (soon to be an S.12 Work Group) was set up in November 2005 to lead this work. Subcommittee members are addressing two issues: Writing new Guidelines for Acoustics in Healthcare Facilities for the AIA and American Hospital Association, and developing a uniform speech privacy enforcement guideline for use in healthcare environments.