Identity Assurance Global Consortium Established

Launched Tuesday as a global not-for-profit initiative, the Center for Ethical Identity Assurance (CEIA) is a global alliance of industry, government and academic partners formed to develop and promote standards for identity credentials as well as supporting business practices that are compatible for a diverse range of industries and geographies.

Key among CEIA's initiatives is the development of a draft Consumer Bill of Rights to protect personal information and safeguard against identity fraud. CEIA will also sponsor research and educational symposia on related issues.

Identity-related crimes are on the rise and will continue to impact global economies. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission reports identity fraud as the number one consumer complaint each year. In the United Kingdom alone, the Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee's latest estimate is that identity fraud costs the economy