The Federal Trade Commission and the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Dedman School of Law will host a half-day public workshop in Dallas on Thursday, November 13, 2008, on how businesses can better secure personal information and protect the privacy of consumers and employees.

The workshop, “Protecting Personal Information: Best Practices for Business,” is presented in partnership with the International Association of Privacy Professionals and the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Dallas. It features business people, attorneys, government officials, privacy officers, and other experts who will provide practical guidance for businesses of all sizes on data security, privacy, best practices for developing an appropriate data-security program, and responding to data breaches and other privacy and security problems.

The FTC and SMU will provide a brief overview of the business and legal reasons to address data security. The program will also include two panels:

• The first panel addresses steps and strategies for developing a data security plan. Panelists include: Billy Spears, Global Privacy Officer, Dell, Inc.; Sherry Ramsey, Assistant Vice President for Public Policy, AT&T; Peter Reid, Chief Privacy Officer, EDS; and Christopher Volkmer, Managing Member, Volkmer Law Firm, LLC.
• The second panel addresses how to prepare for and respond to data breaches. Speakers will be: Kevin McCaslin, Director of Privacy and Security Compliance, Tenet HealthCare Corporation; David Morrow, Former Chief Security and Privacy Officer, EDS; Robert Scott, Managing Partner, Scott & Scott, LLP; Robert Sheffield, United States Secret Service.

The workshop starts at 9:30 a.m. in Storey Hall’s Karcher Auditorium, on the campus of SMU Dedman School of Law, 3315 Daniel Avenue, Dallas, Texas. It is free and open to the public. On-site registration begins at 9:00 a.m. Parking is available in Building #43, also known as Airline Parking Garage, at 6506 Airline Road. After the workshop, attendees may buy lunch and network with the panelists and other participants in the cafeteria of Building #6, also known as Carr Collins Hall. For information about advance registration, go to www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/infosecurity/index.shtm.

The workshop follows a recommendation from the President’s Identity Theft Task Force, co-chaired by the chairman of the FTC, which called on federal agencies to improve their efforts to educate the private sector on safeguarding consumers. A report issued by the Task Force recommended regional seminars to help small businesses and others in the business community understand the importance of safeguarding information, preventing and reporting data breaches, and assisting identity theft victims. The report is available at www.idtheft.gov/reports/StrategicPlan.pdf.

As part of its business education program, the FTC has information to help businesses develop their own data security plans, including an online tutorial, a booklet, and a series of
articles suitable for reprinting in print or electronic newsletters. All are available at www.ftc.gov/infosecurity.

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.

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(FYI data security)