Agilent Technologies Signs U.S./Europe Safe Harbor Agreement to Promote Data Privacy

Business Wire, Oct 4, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 4, 2001

Framework Enhances Protection of Personal

Data Transmitting from European Union Countries

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today announced it has joined the small but growing number of leading U.S. companies in promoting customer privacy by signing the U.S./Europe "safe harbor" agreement on data privacy. Agilent is one of the largest technology firms to have signed the agreement, along with Intel Corporation and Hewlett-Packard Company.

The agreement provides legal protection and a framework to safely transfer personal information from European Union countries to the United States. Companies that sign the safe harbor accord agree to give European Union residents adequate data-privacy protections, including notice about how their personal information is used, the ability to limit disclosure of that information, and access to the data. The agreement has been negotiated between the U.S. Department of Commerce and European Union data protection authorities.

"Agilent places the highest priority on customer privacy," said Jim Allen, Agilent's director of customer privacy. "Our company's global privacy policies are consistent with the European Union's principles for data protection, so our signing the safe harbor agreement is a logical next step in our commitment to customer privacy. In signing this critical agreement, we want to reassure our European customers that we treat their data in the most ethical manner."

Agilent initiated its internal customer privacy program in November 1999 when it began doing business as an independent company while separating from HP. The program has been sponsored at the highest levels within the company. "Customers are our number one priority," said Ned Barnholt, Agilent president and CEO. "Building a long-term business relationship with them depends a great deal on trust, and this trust begins with our commitment to protecting their privacy."

For the past two years, the company has been awarded the BBB Online Privacy Seal, signifying that Agilent meets or exceeds stringent privacy standards set by the Better Business Bureau. The BBB Online Privacy Seal program is well known in the United States and Canada. It is now becoming the highest standard for privacy in many other parts of the world.

The safe harbor agreement between the United States and Europe went into effect last November. Since then, 100 companies have signed the accord. European authorities plan to review U.S. corporate compliance this fall, and possibly begin enforcement actions soon after.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics and life sciences. The company's 43,000 employees serve customers in more than 120 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $9.4 billion in fiscal year 2000, as restated to reflect the sale of its healthcare business. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.