FC: Request for help on privacy officers; IBM gets one

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

[I offered to send Ellen's message to politech. Please send responses
directly to her and, if you like, copy me. I will summarize and
forward, if appropriate, to the list. --Declan]

*********

From: "Ellen Kuo" <ellen_kuo () hotmail com> 
To: declan () well com 
Subject: resource book 
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 23:29:44 

Declan,

I am the cochair for the Corporate Aspects of Information Technology
Subcommitteee under Cyberspace Law and am working on a privacy project
with a group of attorneys in the ABA on a resource book for attorneys
working on developing privacy policies and implementing them within
their organizations. We will cover all the major privacy laws such as
GLB and HIPPA.

We would like to interview a few CPOs for the resource book and see
how much influence they have and how their jobs are structured, and to
compile a list of current companies with CPOs. Any assistance you can
provide would be appreciated and forwarded on to the rest of the
working group that is putting this privacy book together.

Regards,

Ellen Kuo
202 226-0473
ABA
Cochair CAIT

**********

From: "Laura Keeton" <keeton () us ibm com>
Subject: IBM Names First-Ever Privacy Chief
To: "Laura Keeton" <keeton () us ibm com>
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 11:32:47 -0500

 IBM is announcing its first-ever chief privacy officer today.  IBM has
been a strong privacy advocate for many years.  We've tackled both employee
privacy issues as well as online advertising. For more detail, I'm pasting
a couple of bullet points below on various privacy milestones for IBM.

Please give me a call today if you want to talk with us further about this
new privacy appointment.  Phone is 212-745-3054.

IBM Names Harriet P. Pearson as Chief Privacy Officer

ARMONK, NY -- IBM today named Harriet P. Pearson as the company's first
chief privacy officer.  In her new role, Pearson will guide IBM's privacy
policies and practices, lead initiatives across IBM that will strengthen
consumer privacy protection and further the company's leadership efforts in
these areas.  Pearson will report to IBM Senior Vice President and General
Counsel L. R. Ricciardi.

"We know that one of the great conundrums of e-business is that it gives
enterprises a powerful new capability to capture and analyze massive
amounts of customer information so they can serve individual customers more
effectively," said IBM Chairman and CEO Louis V. Gerstner, Jr.  "Yet this
very capability troubles some people, who see it as a means to disclose or
exploit their personal information. These are legitimate and very real
concerns, and they must be addressed if the world of e-business is to reach
its full potential.

"At its core, privacy is not a technology issue. It is a policy issue. And
the policy framework that's needed here must involve the information
technology industry, the private sector in general and public officials,"
continued Mr. Gerstner. "As our chief privacy officer, Harriet Pearson will
represent IBM with all of these important communities and drive our own
cross-company privacy initiatives."

In her new position, Pearson will unify on a global basis the many privacy
projects and programs underway across IBM, including research and
development, marketing, sales, IBM's Web strategy, and technology and
policy efforts.  She will coordinate the development of IBM technology and
services offerings for privacy.  As consumer privacy guidelines evolve,
Pearson will ensure that IBM remains a leader in adopting best practices
for IBM employees, customers and consumers, and ensure that the company
continues to comply with applicable law and standards.

"Harriet has the unique mix of skills and experience a company like IBM
must have to balance its corporate needs with those of its consumers," said
privacy expert Professor Alan Westin, who is chairing a major privacy
conference this week in Washington, D.C.  "Her appointment underscores the
company's continued commitment on this issue and is another step forward
for a company that has been a leader in this field for many years."

Pearson brings more than 10 years of public policy, legal and technology
experience to this new position.  In addition to having directed IBM's
involvement in several areas of public policy, including privacy, health
care and consumer protection, she chairs the Privacy Committee of the
Information Technology Industry Council, serves on the board of the
Internet Education Foundation and on the BBBOnline Privacy Seal Program
Steering Committee, as well as the Executive Committee of the CEO-level
Privacy Leadership Initiative.

Prior to joining IBM in 1993, Pearson practiced law in Washington, D.C. and
worked as an engineer with Shell Offshore, Inc. in Lousiana and Texas.
Born and raised in New York City, she holds a law degree from UCLA and an
engineering degree from Princeton.  Pearson, 37, resides in Virginia with
her husband and two children.

                         ###

   In the 60s, IBM implemented the first global privacy policy for employee
   information

   In the 80s, IBM took the lead on supporting the strengthening of laws to
   protect email privacy

   In '97, IBM implemented one of the first global Web privacy policies,
   and helped form several non-profit groups to ensure sound privacy
   practices by the private sector (TRUSTee, BBBOnline, Online Privacy
   Alliance).

   IBM was the first large technology company to formally unveil a privacy
   practice consulting group (part of IBM Global Services)

   In '99, IBM was the first company to announce that, as one of the top
   advertisers on the Web, we would not place ads on Web sites that lacked
   a privacy policy statement.


   Laura E. Keeton
   Director, Corporate Media Relations
   IBM
   212/745-3054, t/l 243

*******



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