FTC Announces Speakers for Conference on Securing Personal Data in the Global Economy

The Federal Trade Commission has announced the speakers for an upcoming two-day international conference titled “Securing Personal Data in the Global Economy.” The conference, which the FTC will host along with two international organizations, takes place March 16 and 17, 2009, and addresses how companies can manage personal data security issues in a global information environment where data can be stored and accessed from multiple jurisdictions.

Co-sponsors of the conference are the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The conference will include a series of moderated panel discussions, and audience participation is encouraged. Admission is free and pre-registration is not required.

The agenda, which can be found as a link to this press release on the FTC’s Web site, includes moderated panel discussions addressing a case study; data security and the law; data security practices in industry; data breach and response best practices; data flows and cross-border conflicts; and a wrap-up discussion on current and future trends. Speakers will join the program from countries across the globe, including Israel, Ireland, France, Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom. FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz will present the keynote address on March 16, with welcoming remarks by Anne Carblanc of the OECD and Richard Bourassa of APEC. FTC Commissioner Pamela Jones Harbour will present the keynote address on March 17.

The FTC will accept comments on international data security before and after the conference. Comments may be filed on the conference Web site at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/personaldataglobal/index.shtm.

The conference will take place March 16 and 17, 2009, in the FTC’s satellite building at 601 New Jersey Avenue N.W., Washington, DC, shortly after the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Privacy Summit is held in the same city. The conference will be webcast.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.

(Int. Data Sec. FYI)