Traditional　methods　for　the　initial　distribution　of　group　keys　based　on　encryption　and　digital　signature　cannot　effectively　protect　the　privacy　of　a　new　member　who　joins　a　confidential　group　since　the　digital　signature　allows　anyone　to　verify　it　using　the　public　key.　When　joining　such　a　group,　a　new　member　may　not　want　to　make　private　information,　such　as　the　group　it　joins,　the　group　manager　and　especially　the　entity　who　issues　the　admission　token,　available　to　the　general　public　to　prevent　the　information　from　being　disclosed　to　an　adversary.　In　this　paper,　we　propose　two　schemes　for　the　initial　distribution　of　group　keys　for　confidential　group　communication　based　on　elliptic　curve　ElGamal　encryption　and　directed　signature　with　the　property　that　the　signature　can　only　be　verified　by　the　designated　receiver.　We　show　through　experiments　using　statistical　hypothesis　t-test　two　samples　for　means　that　our　schemes　can　effectively　protect　the　privacy　of　a　new　joining　member　at　the　cost　of　little　computation　resources.　©　2010　IEEE.