American Background Receives Dept. of Commerce "Safe Harbor" Certification for Commitment to International Data Security

Business Wire, Nov 28, 2006

Certification Provides U.S. Firms Access to EU Personal Databases

WINCHESTER, Va. -- American Background Information Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Intersections Inc. (Nasdaq:INTX), announced it recently received certification under the U.S. Department of Commerce's "Safe Harbor" program, which allows approved firms access to European databases of private information. American Background, a leader in the employment screening industry, became a Safe Harbor-listed company by demonstrating its commitment to adhering to stringent European Union policies concerning personal data and privacy protection.

American Background, along with parent company Intersections Inc., recently entered into a joint venture with Control Risks Group of the United Kingdom to perform global background checks. Hence, the Safe Harbor listing is a key platform for American Background to access, and then transfer to the U.S., background information on employees from the European Union.

"In addition to being a major honor, our Safe Harbor certification is critical to our efforts to streamline employee screening operations on behalf of multi-national clients," said American Background President Scott Smith. "And, the Safe Harbor designation is an prominent indicator of our commitment to protecting confidential data."

About the Safe Harbor Program

In 1998, the European Commission's Directive on Data Protection went into effect, prohibiting the transfer of personal data to non-European Union nations that do not meet European "adequacy" standards for privacy protection. In order to bridge different privacy approaches, the U.S. Department of Commerce in consultation with the European Commission developed the "Safe Harbor" framework. The Safe Harbor has become an important vehicle for U.S. companies to avoid experiencing interruptions in their business dealings with the EU.

About American Background Information Services, Inc.

American Background (www.americanbackground.com) is an innovative pioneer in the employment screening industry. It provides ongoing programs that include background and drug screening to protect employers from potential liabilities that could threaten their organizations. Backed by proven metrics, American Background reduces the risks associated with organization-wide hiring programs and returns significant savings to the bottom line. Launched in 1982, the company was acquired in November 2004, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Intersections Inc.(Nasdaq:INTX).