US for comprehensive policy to ensure safety of IT data

Kolkata, Oct 12 (UNI) In order to ensure security of data of companies outsourcing services from Indian BPOs, the US government would come out with a comprehensive set of best practices for use of companies in data processing.

The US government would put forward the set of best practices before the Indian government for implementation in Indian BPOs in the next six months, John Fennerty, deputy economic counsellor, Embassy of the USA, said during an interactive session with the members of Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) here today.

"Instead of the government interfering in the security of data processed by the Indian BPOs, we want the BPOs to adopt the best practices for the data processed through them," Mr Fennerty said.

"We want the industry to police itself instead of the government over-regulating the industry." Questions were raised on the security of data in Indian BPOs when a British news channel conducted a sting operation revealing trading of IT data by an employee of a BPO company.

Ms Aileen Crowe Nandi, principal commercial officer, US Commercial Service, said US government is interested in close tie-ups with Indian small and enterprise sector.

She said a business delegation would visit the states for exploring business opportunities.

Around 20 companies from different sectors like agro-based companies, health, energy, mining, steel and education would visit the companies during the time, she added.

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