Confidentiality Policy

Intent

SIA is committed to fostering open, candid and productive dialogue among members, speakers, presenters, volunteers, staff, media participants and invited guests. To support this objective, media participants must respect the confidentiality expectations established in this policy.

Scope

The policy applies to all media participants, including but not limited to journalists, editors, freelancers, sales representatives and publishers and any other staff, contractor, consultant or representative of a media company when attending or participating in SIA events and activities.

SIA events and activities shall include meetings, gatherings, programs, conferences, webinars member group meetings, networking functions and any other SIA-presented or SIA-produced event or activity, whether conducted in person, virtually or in a hybrid format.

Confidentiality and Non-Public Discussions

Media participants shall respect any designation by the association, a speaker, a moderator, a meeting chair, or a participant that a presentation, discussion, conversation, session, meeting, electronic communication or portion thereof is:

  • Off the record;
  • Private;
  • Confidential;
  • Not for publication;
  • Not for attribution;
  • Restricted to participants;
  • Subject to the Chatham House Rule; or
  • Otherwise designated as non-public.

When such a designation is made, media participants shall not disclose, publish, distribute, record, quote, attribute, summarize, report or otherwise communicate the content of the discussion outside the authorized audience without the express permission of the individual or organization entitled to grant such permission.

Chatham House Rule

Where a discussion is conducted under the Chatham House Rule, media participants may use information received during the discussion but may not reveal the identity, affiliation or any identifying characteristics of any speaker, participant or source of the information unless explicit permission has been granted.

All media participants shall honor and comply with any declaration that a meeting, session, conversation or portion thereof is conducted under the Chatham House Rule.

Recordings and Media Reporting

Unless expressly authorized in advance by SIA staff, media participants shall not:

  • Audio record;
  • Video record;
  • Livestream;
  • Photograph restricted materials;
  • Capture screenshots;
  • Publish notes, summaries, transcripts or reports; or
  • Share information through traditional media, social media, blogs, newsletters, podcasts, videos, internal corporate reports, research reports or any other communication channel

with respect to any content designated as private, off the record, confidential, not for publication, non-public or subject to the Chatham House Rule.

Media participants are subject to this policy in the same manner as all other participants.

Reporting of Violations

Any participant who believes this policy has been violated may report the matter to Association executive management and staff.

SIA may investigate alleged violations and request information, materials, recordings, communications or other evidence relevant to determining whether a violation occurred.

The required methods of communication for alleged violations will be directly via email to SIA CEO Don Erickson or by mail to Security Industry Association (SIA), Attn: CEO Don Erickson, 8455 Colesville Rd., Suite 1200, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Enforcement

If SIA executive management determines that this policy has been violated, the association may impose one or more sanctions, including but not limited to:

  • Removal from a current event or meeting (without refund of any fees or ticket purchases);
  • Disqualification from participation in future SIA events and activities.

Company-Wide Restrictions

Where the association determines that a violation has been committed by an individual acting on behalf of a company, organization or other entity, SIA may, at its sole discretion, prohibit participation by any representatives of that entity, including employees, officers, agents, consultants, contractors, subcontractors, freelancers and affiliated personnel, from attending future SIA events, meetings, conferences or other association activities.

Effective Date

This policy is effective immediately.

Acknowledgment

Registration for, attendance at or participation in any SIA event, meeting, gathering, committee, community board or other association activity constitutes acknowledgment of and agreement to comply with this policy.

Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action as described herein.