REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 6, 2000 — With consumers going online in record numbers this month to purchase holiday gifts, attention is focused on the safety of information exchange over the Internet like never before.
Microsoft will host a two-day summit this week in search of ways to protect business and consumer information online. SafeNet 2000: Policy and Practice in the Internet Age will gather online privacy and security leaders at Microsoft’s Redmond campus to develop best practices and standards for online information and identity. The leaders will represent technology industries, government, law enforcement, policy, academia, and consumer protection.
Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates will kick off the event Thursday morning with a keynote speech and question-and-answer session. John McCarthy of Forrester Research will offer the day’s keynote address on privacy issues. Richard Clarke of the National Security Council will be the featured keynote speaker on security issues Friday.
Also planned are panel discussions on key topics, including information sharing and infrastructure protection, privacy enabling technologies, security and risk management, and the future of self-regulation.
Following the panel discussions, those in attendance will break into working groups to develop recommended practices and standards, which will be announced Friday.