26 July 2001, Singapore - CommerceTrust Limited today announced that it has launched a "PrivacyTrust Global Reliability Programme" to enable consumers and businesses to establish trusting relationships based on the respect for personal information.

PrivacyTrust is the first personal data privacy protection trustmark in Singapore. CommerceTrust plans to promote the trustmark as a recognised symbol of confidence in the privacy practices of online and brick-and-mortar organisations.

Consumers are more likely to do business with an organisation that they are confident will protect their privacy. PrivacyTrust provides consumers with the assurance that their privacy will be protected by conducting a verification of the organisation's personal information handling practices. The verification will look at whether the organisation's privacy practices comply with the PrivacyTrust Code of Practice.

"The launch of PrivacyTrust coincides with heightened concerns over consumer privacy globally in recent years. From Europe to Asia, consumers are increasingly aware of the privacy issue and are demanding that businesses use personal information responsibly." Said Associate Professor Toh See Kiat, Chairman of CommerceTrust and MP for Aljunied GRC. "We live in an era where countries worldwide are increasingly introducing privacy legislation to protect the personal data of their citizens. Today, over 30 countries have comprehensive laws governing the processing and use of personal information. Another 20 countries are actively considering new laws."

In particular, the European Union's (EU) comprehensive privacy legislation-the Directive on Data Protection-became effective on October 25, 1998. Not only does the Directive impose strict requirements on the collection, use and disclosure of personal data by businesses in the EU, it prohibits the transfer of personal data outside the EU unless the recipient country provides an adequate level of protection for such data.

The failure of the international community to reach accommodations on privacy with EU interests would seriously threaten the ability to carry on global trade. There is a pressing need for Singapore businesses to adopt internationally acceptable privacy practices in order to avoid the interruption of data flows between Singapore and the developed nations, and in particular nations of the EU. PrivacyTrust fulfils the important role of bridging jurisdictional and transborder differences in privacy protection so that Singapore businesses can continue to receive personal data from North American, Japanese, Australian and EU countries without interruption.

CommerceTrust is currently in the last stages of negotiating cross-recognition agreements with privacy protection trustmark issuers in Japan under the Japan-Singapore Free Trade Area framework led by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA). CommerceTrust will continue to lead in the effort to globalise privacy protection by aligning its PrivacyTrust Code of Practice with internationally recognised privacy protection standards.

In addition, PrivacyTrust recognizes the special privacy protection that needs to be afforded to children and has developed stringent guidelines for merchants whose activities are directed at children under 16. For example, the Code of Practice requires prior parental consent if merchants wish to collect personal information from children. Merchants will also be prohibited from enticing children to divulge information through contests, prizes, and other inducement.

About CommerceTrust Limited

CommerceTrust Limited is formed with the primary objective to accelerate the development and promotion of trust in both the physical and internet business environment by providing a benchmarking framework for trust. Its mission is to be a global leader in building trust and confidence by providing trustmarks that facilitate business transactions.

CommerceTrust's Global Reliability Programme is customised to meet the different requirements of specific industries or categories of businesses. Each programme has a representative trustmark that is distinctive and easily recognisable. Currently, three distinctive trustmarks are issued: ConsumerTrust, PrivacyTrust and BusinessTrust.

CommerceTrust Limited is initiated by CommerceNet Singapore (CNSG), a not-for-profit industry association for companies that engage in electronic commerce and e-business. CNSG is part of a global consortium of business partners spread over 20 countries. Its mission is to make electronic commerce easy, trusted and ubiquitous.

About PrivacyTrust

PrivacyTrust is a Global Reliability Programme that aims to meet international practices in personal data protection. The PrivacyTrust Code of Practice is based on the standards embodied in the National Internet Advisory Committee (NIAC) E-Commerce Code for the Protection of Personal Information and Communications of Consumers of Internet Commerce, the OECD's Guidelines Governing the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Flows of Personal Data (1980), the EU-US Safe Harbour Agreement as well as the EU Data Protection Directive 95/46.

The PrivacyTrust Global Reliability Programme serves to provide assurance to consumers that their privacy rights would be respected. The PrivacyTrust mark is not only a symbol of trust that provides consumers with a privacy-friendly environment, it is also a mark that signifies a reliable and consistent method by which businesses can demonstrate their conformity to international data protection standards and enhance their ability to thrive in the markets of the developed world.

Issued by CommerceTrust Ltd
For Further information, please contact:

CommerceTrust Limited
35, Selegie Road,
#09-25, Parklane,
Singapore 188307
Tel: 65 - 6337 2368   Fax: 65 - 6337 7108
Email:commercetrust@cnsg.com.sg