Centre for Information Policy Leadership Plays Key Role in International Privacy Conference

Centre Releases Accountability Paper

WASHINGTON — November 16, 2011 — The Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams LLP served as principle advisor to Mexico's Federal Institute for Access to Information and Data Protection (IFAI), host of the 33rd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners held November 2-4 in Mexico City. The Centre assisted IFAI in designing and implementing the extensive program, which attracted 700 high-level privacy professionals from around the world.

"The conference dealt with some of the most pressing issues facing privacy enforcement agencies, advocates and business privacy practitioners at the global level," said Martin Abrams, the Centre's president. "Specifically, discussions were aimed at privacy issues facing Latin America and Asia, and attendees also took a serious look at the threats cyber security and big data pose to individuals, society and business."

In its role as secretariat to the global Accountability Project, the Centre issued this year's paper, "Implementing Accountability in the Marketplace" during the Mexico conference. The document reflects the collaborative effort of experts from Europe, Canada, Latin America, Asia Pacific and the United States, and provides a comprehensive review of the deliberations and findings of the Accountability Project’s third year. It examines the requirements and benefits of accountability when it is applied across the marketplace, and considers when and how companies can be formally recognized as accountable and how recognition may be obtained.

"The paper signifies the project's transition into a detailed exploration of the infrastructure necessary to make accountability work," added Abrams. Phase IV of the project will begin in Brussels in February.

About The Centre for Information Policy Leadership

The Centre for Information Policy Leadership is a global think tank, associated with Hunton & Williams, which encourages responsible information governance in today's digital society. Through collaboration with industry leaders, civil society, consumer organizations and government representatives, it explores innovative and pragmatic approaches to global policy issues, seeking to build privacy and data protection in practice while balancing economic and societal needs and interests. More details about the Centre can be found at www.informationpolicycentre.com.

About Hunton & Williams LLP

Hunton & Williams LLP provides legal services to corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals, as well as to a broad array of other entities. Since our establishment more than a century ago, Hunton & Williams has grown to more than 800 lawyers serving clients in 100 countries from 19 offices around the world. While our practice has a strong industry focus on energy, financial services and life sciences, the depth and breadth of our experience extends to more than 100 separate practice areas, including bankruptcy and creditors rights, commercial litigation, corporate transactions and securities law, intellectual property, international and government relations, regulatory law, products liability, and privacy and information management.