TRUSTe AND IAPP PARTNER TO EXTEND MEMBERSHIP AND SEAL BENEFITS

TRUSTe and the International Association of Privacy Professionals to Offer Joint Membership and Educational Programming for Privacy Professionals

San Francisco and Philadelphia – July 28, 2003 – TRUSTe, the leading privacy certification and seal program, today announced that it has partnered with the International Association of Privacy Professionals (the IAPP), the leading organization for privacy professionals, to provide IAPP membership benefits to TRUSTe seal holders, certification to privacy standards and educational programming to members of both organizations.  This new partnership leverages the IAPP's mission to provide privacy professionals with education and professional development programs and TRUSTe's ability to put privacy standards into practice through Web site certification, ongoing monitoring and the establishment of industry best practices. 

"This partnership will bring managers on the front line of privacy a more comprehensive view of the industry and its practices. TRUSTe has worked with thousands of organizations to certify their Web site privacy statements and, has guided the Internet community toward higher standards in Web site privacy enhancing respect for consumers' personally identifiable information," said Fran Maier, Executive Director of TRUSTe. "The IAPP shares our focus and, as such, is a valuable partner for TRUSTe, our seal-holders and all Internet users."

In addition to its industry-recognized privacy standards and expertise, TRUSTe will work with the IAPP to offer bundled membership and privacy seal programs.  TRUSTe will also be coordinating two workshops at the upcoming IAPP Privacy Academy, Oct. 29-31 in Chicago.

"The mission for the IAPP focuses upon the enhancement of the privacy profession through the ongoing education of our members," said Trevor Hughes, Executive Director of the IAPP.  "This partnership will extend important IAPP membership benefits to TRUSTe sealholders and will leverage the strong experience of TRUSTe as a leading self-regulatory privacy organization."

Privacy professionals and companies interested in learning more about privacy certifications and education programs can visit www.truste.org or www.privacyassociation.org.

About the IAPP
The IAPP is the world's leading association of privacy and security professionals.  With more than 1,000 individual and corporate members, the IAPP defines and supports the profession of privacy by being a forum for interaction, education, and discussion across industries. Further information on the IAPP can be found at www.privacyassociation.org.

About TRUSTe
TRUSTe is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to enabling individuals and organizations to establish trusting relationships based on respect for personal identity and information in the evolving networked world.

Founded in 1997, TRUSTe runs an award-winning global privacy certification and seal program. Its seal programs are considered Safe Harbors for the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the EU Safe Harbor Framework. Today, TRUSTe maintains the largest privacy seal program with more than 1,400 Web sites certified throughout the world including AOL, Microsoft, IBM, Nationwide and The New York Times. TRUSTe's mission extends standards, certification and oversight into email with Bonded Sender and wireless with the Wireless Advisory Committee. For more information on TRUSTe please visit www.truste.org.

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