FTC Announces Conference on International Aspects of Securing Personal Data

The Federal Trade Commission, in conjunction with two international organizations, will host a two-day international conference: “Securing Personal Data in the Global Economy.” The conference addresses how companies can manage personal data-security issues in a global information environment where data can be stored and accessed from multiple jurisdictions.

Working with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the FTC will bring together regulators, policymakers, consumer advocates, industry representatives, technology experts, and academics from around the globe. The conference will address best practices and legal requirements for business in data security, data breach responses, and conflicts-of-law issues. One goal of the conference is to help stakeholders understand how and where data flows, so they can identify ways to keep it secure as it moves around the world. Participants also will consider the current legal environment, its effects on individuals and businesses, and next steps.

The conference, which is to be Webcast, will take place in Washington, DC on March 16 and 17, 2009, at the FTC’s satellite building, which is located at 601 New Jersey Ave., NW.  The conference follows the Privacy Summit held by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) in the same city.

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.