Q. How do you get tough on privacy breaches?
A. Appoint a watchdog who isn't sure they should be penalized!

"We are putting into place new measures to maintain the highest level of information privacy. Let me elaborate...We are also formally incorporating our Chief Privacy Officer in review processes related to HP's accountability in the collection and use of sensitive information..."

—HP CEO/Chairman Mark Hurd on HP privacy intrusion. Written Congressional Testimony [PDF]. September 28, 2006.

"Certainly companies need to be held accountable, but penalties are not necessarily the right answer. I'm not prepared to comment on penalties."

—HP Chief Privacy Officer Scott Taylor on proposed federal laws calling for fines and jail terms for privacy intrusion. CIO Insight. September 5, 2006.

By Theo DP