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The Federal Trade Commission announced today that the agency has received the 2008 HP/IAPP Privacy Innovation Award for excellence in protecting personally identifiable information. The annual award is sponsored by Hewlett-Packard and the world’s largest association of privacy professionals, the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

“To be recognized by the privacy industry for our efforts to protect personal information, and to have earned the industry’s premier award, is a true honor,” FTC Chairman William E. Kovacic said, noting the leadership of the Commission’s Chief Privacy Officer, Marc Groman, in spearheading the agency’s privacy program. “Privacy considerations are woven into every aspect of our work,” Kovacic added.

During this year’s Privacy Week at the Commission, employees disposed of unnecessary paper and electronic files with personally identifiable information and certified that remaining information was stored securely. It was the first-ever mandatory event of its kind in the federal government. More than 30 federal agencies have requested copies of the Commission’s materials on privacy protection, including the Department of Homeland Security, and many of them have incorporated the FTC’s materials into their own programs. Americans surveyed by the Poneman Institute have rated the FTC as one of the most-trusted federal agencies for privacy protection.

IAPP Board President Sandra Hughes lauded the FTC for emphasizing the importance of protecting information assets. “On behalf of privacy professionals worldwide, we congratulate the winning innovators for their leadership,” she said.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.

(Privacy Award)