Commerce Secretary to name senior privacy adviser

The Commerce Department is creating a new Internet privacy position to advise Commerce Secretary Donald Evans on the compliance of the agency's Web sites to federal privacy laws.

The position, senior privacy adviser, has yet to be filled. The person in the job will not develop privacy policy for the Bush administration; rather, he or she will ensure that people's personal data is protected when they use Commerce Department Web sites.

"Many Americans rely on the Department of Commerce for a wide range of statistics and data, and Secretary Evans recognizes the importance of protecting consumer privacy. This new position will help direct our effort to protect those who interact with our system," said Commerce spokesman Jim Dyke.

The agency already has someone who ensures that the agency complies with 1974 privacy laws; however; someone specifically tasked with ensuring the privacy of the agency's Web users would fill the new job.