LAT: Data Collectors Face Lawmakers (they sell Soc. Sec. numbers???) [View All]

[DeepModem Mom]

Data Collectors Face Lawmakers
Executives defend their practices amid calls to curb the sale of Social Security numbers.

By Jonathan Peterson, Times Staff Writer


WASHINGTON — Amid rising anger over thefts of personal data, lawmakers Tuesday urged limits on the sale of Social Security numbers and other confidential information.

"I personally see no socially redeeming value in anyone having the right to market or use Social Security numbers and other personal information without my approval," said Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, in a written statement. "If a company wants to use my life for their profit, they ought to have to ask me first."

Congress has considered banning the sale of Social Security numbers before, but legislators are now rallying around the idea in the wake of a series of security breaches that gave identity thieves access to restricted information kept by data brokers ChoicePoint Inc. and LexisNexis, a unit of Reed Elsevier.

At a meeting of his panel's subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection on Tuesday, Barton said there was a "very good chance" he would support a bill making it illegal to sell Social Security numbers, except to help law enforcement.

ChoicePoint Chief Executive Derek Smith, making his first appearance before lawmakers since the scandal erupted last month, agreed at the hearing that some regulation may be needed. Smith said he would support, for example, "a single, reasonable, nationwide mandatory notification requirement" under which companies such as his would tell people when information on them had been released improperly....


http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-choice16mar16,0,6016639.story?coll=la-home-business