2010-25454. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Information for Self-Certification Under FAQ 6 of the United States-European Union Safe Harbor Privacy Framework

AGENCY:

International Trade Administration.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted on or before December 13, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to: Damon Greer, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Room 2003, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; Phone number: [phone] and fax number: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

In response to the European Union Directive on Data Protection that restricts transfers of personal information from Europe to countries whose privacy practices are not deemed “adequate,” the U.S. Department of Commerce has developed a “Safe Harbor” framework that will allow U.S. organizations to satisfy the European Directive's requirements and ensure that personal data flows to the United States are not interrupted. In this process, the Department of Commerce (DOC) repeatedly consulted with U.S. organizations affected by the European Directive and interested non-government organizations. On July 26, 2000, the European Commission issued its decision in accordance with Article 25.6 of the Directive that the Safe Harbor Privacy Principles provide adequate privacy protection. The Safe Harbor framework bridges the differences between the European Union (EU) and U.S. approaches to privacy protection. The complete set of Safe Harbor documents and additional guidance materials may be found at http://export.gov/​safeharbor.

Once the Safe Harbor was deemed “adequate” by the European Commission on July 26, 2000, the DOC began working on the requirements that are necessary to put this accord into effect. The European Member States implemented the decision made by the Commission within 90 days. Therefore, the Safe Harbor became operational on November 1, 2000. The Department of Commerce created a list for U.S. organizations to sign up to the Safe Harbor and provided guidance on the mechanics of signing up to this list. As of May 12, 2010, 2,200 U.S. organizations have been placed on the Safe Harbor List, located at http://export.gov/​safeharbor.

Organizations that have signed up to this list are deemed “adequate” under the Directive and do not have to provide further documentation to European officials. This list will be used by EU citizens and organizations to determine whether further information and contracts will be needed for a U.S. organization to receive personally identifiable information. This list is necessary to make the Safe Harbor accord operational, and was a key demand of the Europeans in agreeing that the Principles were providing “adequate” privacy protection.

The Safe Harbor provides a number of important benefits to U.S. firms. Most importantly, it provides predictability and continuity for U.S. organizations that receive personal information from the EU. Personally identifiable information is defined as any information that can be identified to a specific person, for example an employee's name and extension would be considered personally identifiable information. All 27 member countries are bound by the European Commission's finding of “adequacy”. The Safe Harbor also eliminates the need for prior approval to begin data transfers, or makes approval from the appropriate EU member countries automatic. The Safe Harbor principles offer a simpler and cheaper means of complying with the adequacy requirements of the Directive, which should particularly benefit small and medium enterprises.

The decision to enter the Safe Harbor is entirely voluntary. Organizations that decide to participate in the Safe Harbor must comply with the safe harbor's requirements and publicly declare that they do so. To be assured of Safe Harbor benefits, an organization needs to reaffirm its self-certification annually (Form ITA-4149P) to the DOC that it agrees to adhere to the safe harbor's requirements, which includes elements such as notice, choice, access, data integrity, security and enforcement.

This list will be most regularly used by EU organizations to determine whether further information and contracts will be needed by a U.S. organization to receive personally identifiable information. It will be used by the European Data Protection Authorities to determine whether a company is providing “adequate” protection, and whether a company has requested to cooperate with the Data Protection Authority. This list will be accessed when there is a complaint logged in the EU against a U.S. organization. This will be on a monthly basis. It will be used by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Transportation to determine whether a company is part of the Safe Harbor. This will be accessed if a company is practicing “unfair and deceptive” practices and has misrepresented itself to the public. It will be used by the DOC and the European Commission to determine if organizations are signing up to the list. This list is updated on a regular basis.

II. Method of Collection

The self-certification form is available via the Internet at http://export.gov/​safeharbor/​ and by mail to requesting organizations.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0625-0239.

Form Number(s): ITA-4149P.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business or for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 500.

Estimated Time per Response: 18 minutes—Web site; 40 minutes—letter.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 350 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $100,000.

IV. Request for Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Dated: October 5, 2010.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.