Privacy & Information Security Law Blog

On October 1, 2008, the Article 29 Working Party issued a toolkit on Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs) aimed at promoting them as a mechanism for transferring data to countries without an adequate level of data protection. The toolkit includes: (1) a table highlighting the elements and principles to be found in BCRs (WP 153); (2) a document setting up a framework for the structure of BCRs (WP 154); and (3) a revised version of the FAQs on BCRs (WP 155). The toolkit also announced the creation of a mutual recognition procedure between nine national data protection authorities ...

For the third year in a row, Hunton & Williams LLP has been named the top firm for privacy by Computerworld magazine. In its third annual report on top privacy advisers, the poll surveyed corporate privacy leaders in North America and Europe. The firm was ranked #1 by the respondents overall and by those in the Fortune 1000. When respondents were broken out by industry, Hunton & Williams topped the list as “providing the best privacy advice” in every industry category, including the financial, technology, consumer products and retail, healthcare, media and entertainment, and manufacturing sectors.

New York State recently enacted legislation restricting the use of Social Security numbers (“SSNs”) by employers. The legislation takes effect on January 3, 2009.

In a continuing effort to combat identity theft, New York recently enacted an amendment to the Penal Law making it a crime to impersonate another person or pretend to be a public servant by means of online communication.

Specifically, New York’s Internet impersonation law amends section 190.25 of the Penal Law by adding Subdivision 4, making it a crime to impersonate another person by electronic means, including through use of a website, with the intent to obtain a benefit or injure or defraud another person. It also prohibits using such electronic means to pretend to be a public ...