Dr Harry Valetk
Former Visiting Associate
Dr Harry Valetk
Former Visiting Associate
Harry Valetk joins the OII as a Fulbright Senior Specialist. He is a new media attorney devoted to data privacy, consumer protection, and the complex interaction between the law, technology, and society at large.
Harry has written extensively on identity theft, privacy, online child safety, spam, and cyberstalking laws. His articles have been featured in publications like the Stanford Technology Law Review, the New York Law Journal, Law.com, Findlaw.com, and Univision.com.
Harry is presently the corporate privacy director for MetLife’s Global Privacy Office. In this capacity, he works closely with legal, compliance, and IT security personnel to protect personal information in more than 60 countries. He also leads MetLife’s strategic efforts around security breach. Before joining MetLife, Harry led the interactive game industry’s efforts to protect kids online for the Entertainment Software Rating Board, the organization responsible for rating all video games in the US Department of Justice, US Social Security Administration, US Secretary of Defense, US Attorney’s Office (EDNY), and New York State Attorney General’s Office.
In 2011, Harry was received the Hispanic National Bar Association’s “Top Lawyer Under 40” Award. In 2008, Harry received a Fulbright Senior Specialist grant to lecture overseas on privacy and Internet safety topics. And, in 2005, he was competitively selected from a national applicant pool to participate in Spain’s Young Hispanic Leaders Program. After completing this prestigious program, Harry received an honorary degree from Universidad Interacional Menendez Pelayo.
Harry served as the chief legal officer, in a volunteer capacity, for WiredSafety, helping parents, teachers, law enforcement officials, and policymakers worldwide explore new ways of keeping the Internet community safe. He is a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals’s Advisory Board. He also serves as the Chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Committee.
Harry is licensed to practice law in New York. He was born in Caracas, Venezuela and raised in New York City. Harry graduated cum laude from Bernard M. Baruch College, and received his law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. He is presently serving a three-year term on Baruch College Alumni Association’s the Board of Directors.