AeA Texas Council to Host Privacy Conference in Austin; Attorney General John Cornyn to Speak on How High-Tech Businesses Can Protect Themselves

Business Wire, Dec 6, 2000

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 2000

Industry leaders and government officials will gather in Austin today to identify ways businesses can protect themselves and promote consumer confidence in e-commerce. A representative from Texas Attorney General John Cornyn's office will be among the featured speakers at the AeA Texas Council Privacy Conference, co-sponsored by Deloitte and Touche and Baker Botts, L.L.P.

"It is important for established and new businesses to understand how privacy issues can affect their success in today's e-commerce society," said Steve Kester, AeA Texas Council director of legislative and public affairs. "It's up to our industry leaders to inform businesses about what's at stake. Privacy affects the Texas economy and therefore impacts the life of every Texan."

Privacy has become an issue in today's business world because it affects business in so many ways, from personnel records, to medical and financial records, to online transactions. The conference, which will be held today at The Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, will focus on how privacy issues affect the Texas economy and e-commerce, and what businesses can do to overcome security issues and consumer concerns about privacy.

"The privacy issue must be resolved in order to garner consumer confidence and set industry standards," Kester said. "The Texas economy can remain competitive and strong if industry leaders take the initiative to resolve the matter by educating consumers and businesses on how to protect themselves."

High-tech industry leaders, legislators and educators from across the state will be in attendance. Among the featured panelists are Gary Clayton, executive director, the Privacy Council; Jeff Smith, senior vice president, Applications Product Group, Tivoli; Brenda McCracken Sooy, senior compliance analyst, Better Business Bureau Online Privacy Program; and Bill Stutts, Partner, Baker Botts, L.L.P.

About AeA

Responding to the substantial growth in its membership and keeping pace with the New Economy, the American Electronics Association has changed its name to the more succinct AeA. AeA has also adopted a new tagline, "Advancing the Business of Technology," to highlight its unique leadership and the unrivaled vitality of its member companies in shaping the New Economy.

Advancing the business of technology, AeA is the nation's largest high-tech trade association. Founded in 1943, AeA has more than 3,500 member companies that span the high-technology spectrum, from software, semiconductors and computers to Internet technology, advanced electronics and telecommunications systems and services. With 17 regional U.S. councils and offices in Brussels and Beijing, AeA offers a unique global policy grassroots capability and a wide portfolio of valuable business services and products for the high-tech industry. For 57 years, AeA has been the accepted voice of the U.S. technology community. The AeA Texas Council has offices in both San Antonio and Dallas. For more information about AeA visit the industry's intranet at www.aeanet.org or call Melissa Hendrick 972/416-1956 x223 or email: melissa_hendrick@aeanet.org.