TRUSTe Executive Director Fran Maier to "Slay the Global Privacy Dragon" at 29th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners

TRUSTe, the non-profit organization dedicated to advancing privacy and trust on the internet, announced today that executive director Fran Maier will address the social and ethical issues involved with trust on the Internet on an expert panel at the 29th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners. The event, to be held at Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel, September 25-28, 2007, brings together some of the world's foremost data protection experts to boldly chart the challenges ahead, to explore ways of protecting and enhancing the privacy rights of all people.

Ms. Maier's "Globalization Dragon" panel, "Who Do You Trust? A Look at Privacy Seals," addresses increased consumer concern about how businesses use and share their personal data, and how firms can build business value with trust by posting a consumer-friendly privacy policy and living up to their promises, possibly via display of a privacy seal. This workshop will examine selected privacy seal programs, the case for trustmarks as international accountability agents, the challenges associated with establishing these programs and the consumer, regulator, and business benefits.

The panel, held Thursday, September 27 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., is chaired by Christine A. Varney, partner, Hogan & Hartson LLP and Ms. Maier will be joined on the panel by Kirsten Bock EuroPriSe project manager, ULD Independent Center for Privacy Protection, Schleswig-Holstein.

The theme of this 29th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners is "Terra Incognita." The conference intends to chart the unknown cyber-seas and the dangers they hold for privacy. The main themes to be covered in plenary sessions have been identified as "dragons" in keeping with the theme, and the 6 dragons that conference experts intend to slay are Public Safety, Globalization, Law Meets Technology, Ubiquitous Computing, The Next Generation and The Body as Data. For more information about the event, please visit http://www.privacyconference2007.gc.ca/Terra_Incognita_home_E.html .

About the Speaker:

Fran Maier is one of the foremost privacy experts in the online field. Since Fran joined TRUSTe in 2001, the independent, non-profit has evolved to expand consumer choice from Web sites to downloadable software to email and international programs. During that time TRUSTe has strengthened its monitoring and dispute resolution platforms while growing in influence and certifying more than 2,000 websites. Fran speaks widely on the issues of privacy, security and trust, has appeared before the Federal Trade Commission and the US Department of Commerce, and has testified before the United States House of Representative's Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection.

If you are interested in meeting with Fran Maier at the event, please contact Morgan McDowell of blast! PR.

About TRUSTe:

TRUSTe helps consumers and businesses identify trustworthy online organizations through its Web Privacy Seal, Email Privacy Seal and Trusted Download Programs. An independent, nonprofit organization celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2007, TRUSTe certifies more than 2,400 Web sites, including the major internet portals and leading brands such as AOL, eBay, IBM, Intuit, Microsoft and Oracle. TRUSTe resolves thousands of individual privacy disputes every year. To learn more about internet privacy visit www.truste.org .

Media Contact: Morgan McDowell blast! PR on behalf of TRUSTe 919-833-9975 x 12 Email Contact