ACTE PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
ACTE Calls For More Industry Dialogue At Privacy And National Security Forum
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Alexandria Va (Oct. 1) -- Two representatives of the Association of
Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) made it clear to the leaders of the
global corporate privacy movement today that the dialogue on privacy matters
and national security was just beginning -- And that the business travel
industry had strong opinions on both. Greeley Koch, ACTE's President Elect
and Senior Vice President of TQ3 Navigant, was joined by Bruce McIndoe, CEO
of iJET Travel Risk Management, in delivering several of those opinions to
the International Association of Privacy Professionals' Privacy and National
Security Forum, held in Washington, D.C.
"The business travel industry is probably the first of any to feel the
impact of crossovers entailing corporate privacy and security issues," said
Koch. "And that impact may be measured in the cost of a security program or
public confidence in the secure management of sensitive information."
Koch added that a great deal more dialogue will be required to bridge the
gap between privacy concerns and national security. "Nearly everyone is in
agreement that we need to tighten national security, but that becomes less
than unanimous when the topic changes to methodology."
McIndoe stated the government took a positive step in hiring a privacy
officer for the Department of Homeland Security, and hopes it will follow
through in drawing the line for privacy standards. "Something similar to the
parameters of the Consumer Reporting Act should be developed for all data
systems," said McIndoe. "We need to define what data is being kept, how long
it's being kept, what is the purpose in keeping it, and who has access to
it."
Published accounts that the Transportation Security Administration has asked
for passenger data for a trial run of the Secure Flight program triggered
additional concerns from ACTE that questions regarding reconciliation,
restitution, and cost to business were still unanswered.
"My concern is that questions regarding the specific data to be supplied,
how it will be used and how long it will be retained are still unanswered,"
said McIndoe. "Asking airlines to supply all the data contained in a
Passenger Name Record (PNR) goes way beyond what the government needs to
test the system. The airlines should only be required to supply specific
data for a specific purpose."
Koch stated that today's forum indicated a stronger resolve on the part of
industry to drive the privacy issue. "The fact that privacy officers have
risen so quickly in corporate prominence indicates the importance of this
issue to American businesses."
"And we stressed that our resolve in getting answers to our questions -- or
in working with the government to get those answers -- hasn't changed," said
McIndoe.
Koch and McIndoe participated in a breakout session entitled, "Privacy,
National Security, and the Travel Industry," in which ACTE statistics on
travel security and privacy expectations were presented.
ACTE entered into an exclusive alliance with the International Association
of Privacy Professionals on May 17, 2004. The International Association of
Privacy Professionals is the world's largest association for individuals in
the profession of privacy, helping its members build and maintain privacy
programs while effectively navigating the rapidly changing regulatory and
legal environments.
The Association of Corporate Travel Managers was founded in 1988 as the
research and analysis resource for the global business travel industry. With
2,500 members in 37 countries, the association supports a network of
international influence with two annual conferences, executive forums, power
talks and webcasts (more than 35 this year). The association is best known
for its statistics, studies, and stances in the business travel industry.
To view information about the Traveller Security Taskforce, please click
here.
To view information about the Data Privacy Initiative, please click
here.
For more information, contact:
Jack Riepe
t: 610-719-8396
c: 610-256-0124
e: [email protected]
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