Reply #93: Senators Promise Crackdown on Data Brokers [View All]

[54anickel]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=666759

WASHINGTON Apr 13, 2005 — In the wake of news that a breach at information broker LexisNexis may have exposed personal information of three times more consumers than initially reported, senators promised a tough new crackdown Wednesday on the loosely regulated commercial data-brokering business.

"There's no federal legislation on the subject … It is my conclusion that we do need federal legislation, that there needs to be uniformity," Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said at a hearing where senators grilled top executives of LexisNexis and two other leading data brokers.

Data brokers collect personal information on consumers from drivers license and Social Security numbers to medical records and sell it to insurance companies, prospective employers, the IRS, law enforcement agencies and others.

snip>

Several members of the Senate have introduced legislation, including requirements that consumers be notified when their personal information is breached a provision now in place only in California.


:eyes: Gee, thanks guys for looking out for me. How's about returning the to idea of personal information being PERSONAL!!! :grr: