Consumers may soon have a stronger voice when it comes to data breaches. The Senate Judiciary Committee recently approved two bills: the Data Breach Notification Act and the Personal Data Privacy and Security Act, which, if they become law, will require businesses whose data has been compromised to inform all affected consumers of the breach – and in a timely fashion.
Currently, the majority of states have their own data breach laws in effect, but it can be difficult to enforce conflicting standards, especially when a data breach impacts residents of several different states. Also, there is no specific nationwide standard as to what type of breach event warrants consumer notification. For example, do you have to notify a person if his or her address is leaked, or only if it is something more serious, like a Social Security number?
As it stands right now, many companies do not report data breaches that occur, especially if they are smaller ones, such as an employee stealing a 20 patient list from a doctor’s office. This may not seem like a big deal – unless you happen to be one of those 20 patients.
If the Data Breach Notification Act makes it through Congress, the government will have to draft rules regarding privacy when it uses personal information it garners from outside sources. Also, large corporations will have to report significant data breaches to the Secret Service. Finally, any organization that uses personal data would have to report a breach to both the affected persons and law enforcement.
Many people do not know that data brokers, which are companies whose major role is to collect personal information, actually possess their information. If the Personal Data Privacy and Security Act passes, consumers will not only have access to this data; they will be able to make changes to it to correct any errors. People who steal this data will face increased criminal penalties, which will hopefully help to discourage potential identity thieves.
There is no guarantee that either of these laws will make it to the President’s desk, although it is hoped that they do. Even if both pass, this doesn’t mean identity thieves will cease to operate. If anything, they simply highlight the seriousness of the crime, which is not even beginning to wane. According to Javelin Research, one in 10 Americans has already been victimized.
It is still just as important to protect yourself from identity thieves and not rely on the government to do it for you. One easy way is to purchase the best identity theft protection service from a highly rated source. While there is no 100% foolproof way to prevent yourself from becoming a victim, a plan can certainly lower your odds. Since this issue is serious, as evidenced by current political activity, and it’s not going away anytime soon, the time to set yourself up with a plan is now – before this crime happens to you or a loved one.