US State of Washington, DHS open new office of privacy and data protection

The state of Washington's Governor's Office has signed an agreement with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to work jointly towards strengthening the protection of critical infrastructure and government services.

Under the partnership, the entities will open a new Office of Privacy and Data Protection to provide privacy training and best practices to state agencies and provide consumer outreach and education for Washington state residents.

State of Washington Governor Jay Robert Inslee said: "We are the world's centre for digital commerce. We know that in this digital era, good cyber security is essential to the continuity of global commerce and to a thriving economy.

"We're excited that Washington's work in this area is being recognised by the Department of Homeland Security. They've chosen our state for an innovative pilot program that will further strengthen our efforts to defend our critical infrastructure."

The initiative is part of the larger critical infrastructure defence strategies that includes the adoption of proven cyber defence measures for government services, vulnerability identification and prioritisation strategies and operational response and mitigation tools.

In addition, the Homeland Security and the state Office of Cyber Security will set up an advisory board of experts from government, critical infrastructure providers, and intelligence organisations.

Washington State chief privacy officer Alex Alben said: "Creation of this office affirms the state's commitment to protecting digital privacy, and will help state agencies better keep pace with the evolution of technology."

The new partnership is expected to assist the state government in tackling the emerging cyber threats across the region.

The office will also conduct an annual review to assess state privacy processes and practices.