Obama can lead way on stemming breaches, identity theft
A bold band of security and privacy experts is calling on President Obama to create a federal clearinghouse of information about data breaches — and make that intelligence accessible to companies, consumers and law enforcement.
The proposal comes in a report titled, The Perfect Storm: Why the New Administration Cannot Ignore Identity Theft, by Adam Levin, Chairman and Co-Founder of Identity Theft 911. Experts cited in the report include Jay Foley, co-founder of the Identity Theft Resource Center, Pam Dixon founder of World Privacy Forum, and Chris Hoofnagle, of the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology.
At first blush, this comes off as a radical idea, certain to slam into a brick wall of special-interest inertia. However, it does mesh with Obama’s efforts — which are already ramping up – to establish a new age of transparency designed to undergird the public good.
What’s more, with data theft and Internet-enabled financial scams spiraling out of control – and rapidly eroding consumers’ trust in the Internet — this is, in fact, a very rationale notion. It would seem to deserve the same level of discussion that resulted in naming of the Top 25 programming flaws.
Levin
“Simply because a small percentage of consumers who are on compromised databases actually suffer a personal incident within a short period of time doesn’t mean that they don’t face continuing risk,” says Levin “Identities are evergreen and real currency.”
Levin suggests designating the Federal Trade Commission as the principal information vehicle and omnibus regulatory authority. He wants to see passage of a national data breach notification and disclosure law “with teeth.” And more funding for the FTC.
Highlights of the report include calls for the Obama administration to:
- Derail efforts by the Big Three credit bureaus to water down state laws that require companies to notifiy consumers when their data gets stolen and allow them to easily freeze their credit records.
- Compel federal agencies to handle sensitive citizens’ data more securely.
- Pool law enforcement crime data “in order to provide a more timely and complete snapshot of the identity theft problem”
“There is no shortage of ideas as to how we may assert greater control over the identity theft pandemic,” the report concludes. “Now it’s up to the new president, as a great listener and mediator, to bring all voices to the table.”
–Byron Acohido
August 8th, 2009 at 12:31 am
I am on disability and have been the victim of this issue. My debit card information fell into the wrong hands, and within a two hour period someone cleaned out my checking account, leaving me a balance of $4.81. Although my ATM card was in my wallet, the perpertrator also made two ATM WITHDRAWALS within minutes of each other, and the bank refused to give my money back for 10 days until it had been investigated. I also filed a complaint with the Police Department, but I have never been contacted by the detective assigned to my case. That was a year ago.
Even though it was only about $600+, it was my livlihood and REALLY messed me up. Something has to be done about this blight on our country.
In passing, I would like to give President O’Bama a big old A+ for his first six months. Why he wanted to inherit the mess that took eight years for George Bush to accomplish goes
beyond my comprehension, but I am sincerely glad that he did. The day he was elected our President was the first time I have been proud to be an American in a long, long while, and I am 64 years old. It shows that the citizens of this country had made bigger strides toward eliminating bigotry than I had thought. He sets an example for everyone both in his public and personal life.
January 12th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
The real point here is that no one is shielded from having their identity stolen. No one Mr. Lifelock.
Another point is to realize that identity theft is not about stealing all your precious hard earned money, like all victims, it is your livelihood. When a victim, don’t go it alone on the road to recovery.
Get Help!