Alan Furman Westin (October 11, 1929 – February 18, 2013)[1] was a Professor of Public Law & Government Emeritus, Columbia University, former publisher of Privacy & American Business, and former President of the Center for Social & Legal Research.
[3] In 1993, with Washington attorney Robert Belair, Dr. Westin founded Privacy & American Business, a non-profit think tank that provided expert analysis and a balanced voice on business-privacy issues.
P&AB also managed privacyexchange.org – a global Internet web site on consumers, commerce, and data protection worldwide, covering privacy developments in over 100 nations.
[4] As part of Privacy & American Business, Westin performed dozens of public-opinion poll surveys, ones that often supported the policy goals and conclusions of their sponsors.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Westin was, "on the payrolls of many of the large financial services, technology and marketing companies that have resisted new privacy rules and legislation, including GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Equifax Inc. and First Data Corp.