Commentary on Congress and ID Theft
From today’s New York Times Magazine, You’ve Been Sold, by Richard A. Clarke. “What Congress can do now to bust the boom in identity theft.” Related beSpacific postings on ID theft
Category «ID Theft»
Review of ID Theft Resolution Services
From the free content section of the April 21 WSJ, A Cottage Industry Blooms To Help Victims of ID Theft examines the costs and range of services offered by companies who market assistance to victims of online or offline ID theft. In addition, potential red flags about, and the limitations to, these services are noted.
NY AG Proposes Range of Legislative Initiatives to Protect Consumers Against ID Theft
Press release, April 1, 2005: Spitzer Calls for Regulation of Information Brokers and Increased Penalties for Computer Hacking. Note – links to the text of the proposed legislation, in PDF, are available via this press release, and highlights include the following: Providing identity theft victims better control over their personal identifying information, including: allowing for …
Database Provider Begins Informing Individuals Impacted by Data Breach
Press release today: “LexisNexis U.S., a leading provider of legal, news and business information said today it has begun mailing notification letters to approximately 280,000 individuals whose personally identifying information may have been accessed by unauthorized individuals using passwords and IDs stolen from legitimate customers of its Seisint unit.” Related references here and here.
Safeguarding Americans from Exporting Identification Data (SAFE ID) Act
Press release: “Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Representative Edward J. Markey announced that they would introduce the Safeguarding Americans from Exporting Identification Data (SAFE ID) Act in the United States Senate and House today, legislation that would protect the privacy of consumers’ most sensitive personal information. This legislation would close gaps in U.S. privacy laws …
Theft of PCs With Data on Almost 200,000 California Patients
The San Jose Medical Group reported the theft, from their facility, of two Dell PCs to which confidential data on 185,000 patients had been copied from the organization’s servers.
Hearing Examines Security Breaches of Database Aggregator and Ramifications for Victims
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, “Securing Electronic Personal Data: Striking a Balance Between Privacy and Commercial and Governmental Use,” April 13, 2005 Links to the text of available testimony (from ChoicePoint, Acxiom, as well as the FTC, CDT, PrivacyToday.com) and member statements. [Note: the text of testimony by LexisNexis is not currently online] Related news: Data …
Sen. Feinstein Introduces Notification of Risk to Personal Data Act
S. 751, A bill to require federal agencies, and persons engaged in interstate commerce, in possession of data containing personal information, to disclose any unauthorized acquisition of such information, introduced April 11, 2005. Press release from Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California: “Just yesterday, I introduced a stronger version of legislation that would help people to …
Sen. Schumer Introduces New ID Theft Prevention Legislation
Press release, April 12: Recent Examples of Egregious Loopholes That Are Compromising Personal Information Need Immediate and Thorough Action by Congress – Schumer-Nelson Bill Would Empower FTC, Inform Consumer to Prevent ID Theft in Future, Not Just Punish Wrongdoers after the Fact “On the heels of numerous and significant identity theft breaches, U.S. Senators Charles …
Renewed Calls To Define Policies for Consumer Notification of ID Theft
“CDT will testify (text of statement submitted by CDT Exec. Director, 17 pages, PDF) April 13 before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the privacy and security issues raised by recent losses of personal information by data brokers and others. CDT will call for a stronger policy framework, requiring notice of breach, security safeguards, limits on …
LexisNexis Security Breach Impacts Significantly Larger Group Than Previously Reported
Press release: LexisNexis Concludes Review of Data Search Activity, Identifying Additional Instances of Illegal Data Access: “In addition to the 30,000 individuals already notified, LexisNexis will begin notifying approximately 280,000 additional individuals whose information may have been acquired during these recently identified incidents. LexisNexis will offer free support services to individuals who receive the notification, …
Pew Data Memo On Spam and Phishing
Press release: Spam and phishing – “More than a year after the CAN-SPAM Act became law, email users say they are receiving slightly more spam in their inboxes than before, but they are minding it less…And in a first-time measure of “phishing,” or unsolicited email requesting personal financial information, 35% of users say they have …
