Centre for Information Policy Leadership | Privacy and Information Security Law Blog

British Columbia Privacy Commissioner Discusses New Privacy Management Program Guidance

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On May 4, 2012, Marty Abrams, President of the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams LLP (“the Centre”), interviewed British Columbia’s Information and Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham during the Centre’s First Friday call. Commissioner Denham discussed the April 2012 release of “Getting Accountability Right with a Privacy Management Program,” new guidance issued by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Offices of the Information and Privacy Commissioners of Alberta and British Columbia. The guidance addresses the Commissioners’ expectations for accountable privacy programs as required by Canadian law. Commissioner Denham described the guidance as “a tool to help organizations comply with the law,” providing “a roadmap to sound data governance,” with clear, practical terms for organizations to achieve accountability.

Tags: Accountability, British Columbia, Canada, Marty Abrams

Australian Government Moves Forward with Privacy Reform Legislation

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On May 2, 2012, Australia’s Attorney General Nicola Roxon announced that the Australian government will introduce a bill to the Australian Parliament that will enact a number of the recommendations from the 2008 Law Reform Commission Report (ALRC Report 108) and reform privacy law in Australia. Discussion drafts of segments of the bill were considered by a Senate Committee in 2011. On May 4, Australian Privacy Commissioner Timothy Pilgrim presented an overview of the draft legislation at an event held during the iappANZ Privacy Awareness Week. Commissioner Pilgrim noted that the legislative package includes: Continue reading…

Tags: Accountability, Australia, Consumer Protection, Credit Report, Data Transfer, International Association of Privacy Professionals, Legislation, Malcolm Crompton

Canadian Privacy Authorities Release Accountability Guidance

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On April 17, 2012, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Information and Privacy Commissioners of Alberta and British Columbia released guidance on their expectations for accountable privacy programs as required by Canadian law. The guidance, entitled “Getting Accountability Right with a Privacy Management Program,” discusses the building blocks of a comprehensive privacy program for businesses of all sizes. Although intended for a Canadian audience, the paper likely will have worldwide influence given recent privacy law developments around the globe.

Tags: Accountability, Binding Corporate Rules, Canada, Federal Trade Commission, Latin America

Centre Files Comments with NTIA to Develop Consumer Privacy Codes of Conduct

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Hunton & Williams LLP

Drawing on its eleven years of experience facilitating multistakeholder processes, on April 2, 2012, the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams LLP filed comments in response to the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s request for public comments on the multistakeholder process to develop consumer data privacy codes of conduct. The NTIA’s request relates to the topics and processes that will inform the creation of binding codes of conduct as discussed in the Obama Administration’s February release of a framework for a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights.

In its remarks, the Centre indicated support for the multistakeholder approach, but proposed a process that would allow industry stakeholders the opportunity to engage in frank discussions among themselves, without media coverage or concern that their comments might be recorded. While the Centre’s proposal emphasized that industry should draft codes of best practices, it also highlighted the need for feedback from experts, advocates and regulators, specifically through a public workshop and written comment period. The Centre also urged the multistakeholder working group to prioritize the development of industry best practices for accountability.

Tags: Consumer Protection, Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Obama

FTC Privacy Report Emphasizes Privacy by Design, Individual Control and Transparency

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On March 26, 2012, the Federal Trade Commission issued a new privacy report entitled “Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change: A Proposed Framework for Businesses and Policymakers.” The report charts a path forward for companies to act in the interest of protecting consumer privacy.

In his introductory remarks, FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz indicated his support for Do Not Track stating, “Simply put, your computer is your property; no one has the right to put anything on it that you don’t want.” In later comments he predicted that if effective Do Not Track mechanisms are not available by the end of this year, the new Congress likely would introduce a legislative solution.

Tags: Accountability, APEC, Consent Order, Consumer Protection, Department of Commerce, Do Not Track, EU Data Protection Directive, Facebook, Federal Trade Commission, Google, Jon Leibowitz, Legislation, Obama, OECD, Privacy By Design

EU-U.S. Interoperability Not Ready for Prime Time

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On March 19, 2012, the European Commission hosted this year’s Safe Harbor Conference in Washington, D.C., to address the transfer of data from Europe to the United States. Although it appears the Safe Harbor framework will remain unchanged for the time being, it seems unlikely the United States will be considered adequate, or even interoperable, with the EU for purposes of cross-border data transfers.

Tags: Adequacy, Binding Corporate Rules, Cameron Kerry, Data Transfer, Department of Commerce, European Commission, Safe Harbor, Viviane Reding

NTIA Extends Deadline for Comments on Developing Consumer Data Privacy Codes of Conduct

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On March 21, 2012, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced a one-week extension to the deadline for responses to their March 2 request for public comments on the multistakeholder process to develop consumer data privacy codes of conduct. Comments are now due on Monday, April 2, 2012. The request for comments relates to both the topics and processes that will inform the creation of binding codes of conduct as discussed in the Obama Administration’s February release of a framework for a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights.

The Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams will be submitting comments.

Tags: Consumer Protection, Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Obama

2012 IAPP Global Privacy Summit

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Hunton & Williams LLP

Join us at the International Association of Privacy Professionals (“IAPP”) Global Privacy Summit in Washington, D.C., March 7-9, 2012. Hunton & Williams privacy professionals will be featured speakers in the following sessions:

Mending Fences after a Breach
Thursday, March 8, 12:15 p.m.
Speakers include: Lisa J. Sotto, partner and head of the Global Privacy and Data Security practice, Hunton & Williams LLP; Susan Grant, Director of Consumer Protection, Consumer Federation of America; and Joanne B. McNabb, Chief, California Office of Privacy Protection. Continue reading…

Tags: Article 29 Working Party, Binding Corporate Rules, Bridget Treacy, Canada, Christopher Graham, CNIL, Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Fred Cate, Information Commissioners Office, International Association of Privacy Professionals, Ireland, Jacob Kohnstamm, Lisa Sotto, Marty Abrams, Mexico, Nuala OConnor Kelly, Peter Hustinx, United Kingdom

European Commission to Host Safe Harbor Conference on March 19 in Washington

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Hunton & Williams LLP

The U.S. Department of Commerce has confirmed that the European Commission will host this year’s Safe Harbor Conference in Washington, D.C., on March 19, 2012. The venue marks a change from the tradition of previous sessions which have taken place in the host authority’s capital city (Washington, D.C. or Brussels). The Conference will follow the release of the European Commission’s draft revisions to the EU Data Protection Directive 95/46, which are expected on or around January 25, 2012. The widely leaked draft of the proposal does not contain language pertaining to the current Safe Harbor program that exists between the United States and Europe. The European Commission and the U.S. Department of Commerce will negotiate the Safe Harbor Conference agenda over the next few weeks.

Tags: Department of Commerce, EU Data Protection Directive, European Commission, Safe Harbor

Privacy and Information Security Law Blog - Global privacy and information security law updates and analysis

British Columbia Privacy Commissioner Discusses New Privacy Management Program Guidance

Australian Government Moves Forward with Privacy Reform Legislation

Canadian Privacy Authorities Release Accountability Guidance

Centre Files Comments with NTIA to Develop Consumer Privacy Codes of Conduct

EU-U.S. Interoperability Not Ready for Prime Time

NTIA Extends Deadline for Comments on Developing Consumer Data Privacy Codes of Conduct

2012 IAPP Global Privacy Summit

European Commission to Host Safe Harbor Conference on March 19 in Washington

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