PCI Gains Payment Data Security Ally

The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) announced Tuesday (March 22) that it is joining forces with the European Card Payment Association (ECPA) to further the fight against global payment data theft.

Since both organizations share the same goal of having a single, globally unified data security standard, the ECPA will officially become a strategic regional member of the PCI Council. Going forward, the ECPA will advocate for the use of the PCI Standard among its members in conformance with European Union regulations and collaborate on future versions of the global PCI Data Security Standard.

“The council is very excited by the ECPA alliance and having ECPA’s expertise helping guide the future of data security,” PCI SSC Executive Committee Chairman Karteek Patel said in a press release. “We’re looking forward to ECPA’s active participation on every level of the council. It will be a significant force in our mission to educate, empower and protect against data theft around the world.”

As a strategic regional member, ECPA will join the more than 700 organizations and 28 board member companies and associations globally who are committed to developing and evolving the PCI Security Standard.

Vitor Bento, chairman of the ECPA, emphasized the significance of the agreement, noting: “It responds to the objectives of the various European institutions that opinions of national organizations and stakeholders in the European card payment ecosystem are taken into account when defining security standards, whilst reinforcing PCI’s reputation as a transparent global standards body.”

“We at ECPA are proud of becoming the Strategic European Regional Member of PCI SSC and look forward to building a long-term relationship together to further the security and trust in card payments for users,” he added.