Owings Mills, MD – Employment Background Investigations (EBI), a global leader in background screening, drug testing and I-9 solutions, is now officially certified under the Privacy Shield Framework. This new set of data standardization requirements was reached between the European Union and the U.S. Department of Commerce to replace the Safe Harbor Principles after they were overturned by European courts.
The Privacy Shield agreement guarantees that private information from European citizens will receive the same protections in the U.S. as it would if the data was being accessed within the EU. While joining the framework is voluntary, companies that make the commitment will be held to its high standards by the International Trade Administration (ITA).
“As Background screeners, we have a duty to protect all of the Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from our clients’ candidates and employees,” said Rick Kurland, President and CEO of EBI. “It is our responsibility to do everything we can to protect the privacy of citizens, both in the U.S. and across the globe. Once the Privacy Shield Framework was confirmed, we immediately began the process to become self-certified through the Commerce Department to ensure we were compliant from day one.”
In order to be certified, companies are required to follow seven principles as well as 16 supplemental principles, all of which set forth how consumers’ information will be protected and what recourses citizens have if they feel their information is being used improperly. The framework also requires audits to ensure data is being protected. Such audits are already an important part of EBI’s business model, which is illustrated by our ISO 27001:2013 Certification for information security.
About EBI
Employment Background Investigations is a technology-driven innovator and leader in providing domestic and global pre-employment background checks, drug testing, occupational healthcare, and I-9 compliance solutions for employers. Founded in 1994, EBI is one of the largest background-screening firms in the country. EBI specializes in the development, implementation and management of comprehensive and customized employment screening programs for more than 5,000 clients in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
EBI is proud to be ISO 27001:2013 Certified for information security and ISO 9001:2008 Certified for quality management. EBI is also accredited through the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) Background Screening Agency Accreditation Program. EBI maintains all of our operations and customer service functions in USA.