IBM Names Exec to Direct Internet Privacy Concerns

IBM Corp. on Wednesday named a chief privacy officer to guide internal and external policies on Internet-related privacy issues.

Harriet Pearson, 37, previously the company’s director of public affairs, will coordinate privacy efforts in developing new products, in the company’s Web strategy and in the public arena, Chairman Louis Gerstner said in a memo to employees.

A lawyer and engineer, Pearson currently heads the privacy committee of the Information Technology Industry Council. Gerstner’s memo was made public by IBM.

The Internet’s ability to enhance information swapping and the ability of commercial or government software to track an individual’s Web use have raised privacy concerns.

A growing number of companies have named chief privacy officers this year, including Microsoft Corp. and Internet service provider @Home Corp.

IBM shares rose $1.94 to close at $99.81 on the New York Stock Exchange.