An appropriate dilemma faced the organizers of the International Conference of Information Commissioners in Berlin.

A request for the attendance list of the conference posed a familiar issue for the organizers: disclosure vs. privacy.

Peter Schaar, the German information and privacy commissioner, announced Sept. 18 that those who did not want their presence on the list could ask to have their names deleted, prompting knowing smiles and conversations.

The next morning, the list was available. No removal requests were received, Schaar said Sept. 19. Another organizer told FreedomInfo.org that one student made such a request.

Schaar reiterated his rationale, saying that while some attendees were public officials, others were attending in a private capacity, “so different considerations apply to them” and he thought it was fair to offer the opt-out option.

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