Jules Polonetsky

Jules serves as executive director and co-chair of the Future of Privacy Forum, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank that seeks to advance responsible data practices.

FPF’s current projects to advance transparency and control in a business-practical manner focus on online data use, smart grid, mobile data, apps and social media.

As AOL’s former Chief Privacy Officer and SVP for Consumer Advocacy, Jules was responsible for ensuring that AOL’s users could trust the company with their information and for educating employees about best practices for advertising, content, and product development.

Jules previously served for four years as vice president, integrity assurance, at America Online Inc. The team was responsible for a wide range of consumer protection and risk management issues for AOL’s brands (America Online, AIM, Netscape, Compuserve, Mapquest, MoviePhone, Spinner, WinAmp, ICQ, Advertising.com) including privacy, advertising policy, content and community standards, product standards, parental controls, safety and accessibility for users with disabilities.

From March 2000 through April 2002, Jules was chief privacy officer and special counsel at DoubleClick, the advertising and marketing technology company that at the time was the largest internet company in New York City. In that role, he worked with DoubleClick clients to institute and police their privacy policies and managed compliance with data protection requirements for DoubleClick subsidiaries world-wide. In his special counsel role, Jules oversaw DoubleClick’s government affairs activities and consumer-related advertising practices.

From January 1, 1998 until he joined DoubleClick in March 2000, Jules served as the NYC Consumer Affairs Commissioner for Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. As New York City’s chief consumer law enforcement official, Jules was responsible for ensuring that all consumer advertising and sales complied with City, State and Federal consumer protection laws.

Jules served as an elected member of the New York State Assembly from 1994 to 1997. From November 1992 through 1993, Jules was a legislative aide to Congressman Charles Schumer and was a District Representative for Congressman Steve Solarz from 1990 to 1992.

Jules practiced law in the New York office of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan from 1989 to 1990. He is a graduate of New York University School of Law and Yeshiva University, and is admitted to the Bars of New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. Jules is also a Certified Information Privacy Professional.

Jules has served on the boards of a number of privacy and consumer protection organizations including TRUSTe, the International Association of Privacy Professionals, the Privacy Committee of the Direct Marketing Association, the Children’s Advertising Review Unit of the Council of BBB’s, the Better Business Bureau (NY Region), and the Network Advertising Initiative. From 2000-2002, Jules chaired the CPO Council of the Internet Advertising Bureau.

In 2001, Crain’s NY Business magazine named Jules one of the top technology leaders in New York City.

Jules is a regular speaker at privacy and marketing industry events and has testified or presented as an industry expert before Congressional committees and the Federal Trade Commission. In 2011, Jules was appointed to the Department of Homeland Security Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee.