Press Release

EQUIFAX SIGNS PERSONAL INFORMATION PROMISE

London, 28th January 2009 - Leading credit and business information provider, Equifax, will become one of the first companies to sign the Information Commissioner's new Personal Information Promise.

Launched in response to major data loss incidents, organisations and government departments are being urged to sign the Personal Information Promise as a commitment to data protection.

It opens for signature on 28th January 2009 as part of European Data Protection Day, giving organisations a chance to publicly demonstrate their commitment to data protection. It aims to restore public confidence in the organisations that hold their personal details and contains a number of commitments that reflect the requirements of data protection legislation and the organisational measures that will be taken to achieve these. The list of organisations that sign up to it will be available online at www.ico.gov.uk.

Richard Thomas, Information Commissioner, said: "Data protection is good for business. We say so and businesses say so. Organisations are waking up to the fact that privacy is now so significant that lapses risk reputations and bottom lines. What company wants inaccurate records on its customers? What public body can afford to take risks with sensitive personal details? I urge leaders across government, the public, private and third sectors to take a positive attitude to data protection. Protecting people's personal details should not be left to chance. Nor can it be left to lawyers or IT teams. I urge all CEOs and their executive teams to take personal responsibility for treating data protection as a corporate governance issue affecting the whole organisation. They have to make sure that safeguarding the personal information of the customers and staff is embedded in their organisational culture."

"Equifax is delighted to be at the forefront of this initiative, as one of the first to sign and declare our dedication to protecting personal information" confirmed Neil Munroe, External Affairs Director, Equifax. "The Personal Information Promise aims to help rejuvenate public trust by collecting signatures from senior figures on behalf of their organisations. We fully support the Promise and believe it is essential that consumers have confidence in the organisations entrusted with their personal information.

"As the custodians of a wealth of private information, Equifax feels it is imperative that public trust in data protection is improved. This is a very important initiative and we are pleased to be signing the Promise alongside many senior figures as we work together to improve regulatory compliance and focus on best practice at every level."

ENDS

For further press information please contact: Wendy Harrison, Cecile Stearn, Margot Tomkinson or Jenny Staniforth at HSL on 020 8977 9132 / Fax: 020 8977 5200 or Email: wendy@harrisonsadler.com