This is an official notice of the National Council of Investigation & Security Services representing the investigative and security professions for 39 years

 

Capitol
NCISS 
Legislative ALERT
May 28, 2014
 

  FTC REPORT RELEASED ON DATA BROKERS

 

 

Just in from NCISS Legislative Advocates at


 

The FTC released its long awaited report on the data broker industry. As most stakeholders predicted, the report called on Congress to enact the report's recommendations. The report, "Data Brokers: A Call for Transparency and Accountability," made legislative recommendations based on the three general types of data broker products:

 

*             Marketing Products: FTC recommends Congress give consumers access to their data and have the ability to opt out of use for marketing purposes. The report suggests the creation of a "centralized portal" where consumers could opt-out and learn what information data brokers have obtained about them. Along with access to data, the report suggests increased consumer notice and disclosure of data collection. 

 

*             Risk Mitigation Products: Risk mitigation products are products designed to give companies insight into whether consumers can afford certain contracts. The FTC recommends legislation that would require companies to disclose the information that prevented a consumer from completing a transaction in the event of a risk mitigation product advising a company not to enter a contract with the consumer. 

 

*             People Search Products: For people search products, the FTC advises legislation allowing consumers to access their information, opt out of use of information, disclose the source of information and disclose any limitations of an opt out.  

 

Legislative Outlook:

 

Although Senator Rockefeller put out a statement on the report, there has been no mention of a future hearing on the report or his data broker bill. On the House side, Reps. Joe Barton and Lee Terry (whose committees have privacy jurisdiction) expressed little optimism a data broker bill would advance. A Terry aide confirmed that the Congressman 'doesn't believe that Congress shouldn't act legislatively unless there are identifiable consumer harms and right now the way forward is not clear.' Industry groups pushed back against the report including the Digital Advertising Alliance. FTC Commissioner Brill is "hopeful that there will be a conversation that takes place not only on the Hill, but also within industry itself.'

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As always, we will keep you posted. If you have questions, please contact me at the email provided with my signature line.

 

 

Francie Koehler

 

Francie Koehler

[email protected]

NCISS Legislative Chair - Security

7501 Sparrows Point Boulevard

Baltimore, Maryland 21219-1927

T-(800) 445-8408  F-(410) 388-9746

www.nciss.org

  

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