IDFA Plays Active Role in Federal Information-Sharing Study

The National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC), a working group of high-level executives appointed by President Bush, recently presented the results of its study assessing the flow of information between the U.S. intelligence community and the private sector. NIAC asked a group of representative experts from the private sector, including IDFA Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Clay Detlefsen, to provide input and help the council develop findings and recommendations.

NIAC members communicate with the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide the president with advice on homeland security matters in these sectors: banking and finance, transportation, energy, manufacturing (including food) and emergency government services. President Bush requested the information-sharing study in July 2004, and the final report, "Public-Private Sector Intelligence Coordination," was presented August 23, 2006.

In the report, the council submitted eight policy recommendations for consideration, and Detlefsen identified two that are particularly relevant and important to the dairy industry. One is the development of a list of best practices for private sector employers to use when working with the intelligence community.

"This guide would clarify legal issues surrounding any conflict between privacy laws and counter-terrorism laws involving employees. It also would clarify the limits of private sector cooperation with the intelligence community," Detlefsen said.

The second relevant recommendation suggests the development of a formal yet manageable process for the private sector to follow when handling requests for information from the intelligence community.

"The private sector and the intelligence community need to cooperate more. The intelligence community doesn't know food and agriculture, so there's a desperate need for us to work together," Detlefsen said.

For more information, contact Detlefsen at cdetlefsen@idfa.org or 202-220-3554. To view the full report, click here.

#  #   #

Posted October 30, 2006