Leaky credit report biz face massive fines if US senators get their way

Solarquest

Moderator
Thread author
Verified
Staff Member
Malware Hunter
Well-known
Jul 22, 2014
2,525
That Equifax hack would have cost the outfit $1.5bn

New legislation introduced in the US Senate by Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) would result in credit reporting agencies being slapped with stiff fines if they play fast and loose with data security.

The Data Breach Prevention and Compensation Act [PDF] would impose a mandatory $100 fine per person affected on credit agencies that leak customer records each with at least one piece of personal identifying information (PII), and an additional $50 fine for every other piece of PII exposed.


The fines would be administered by the Federal Trade Commission, and the legislation requires that at least half of any fines collected would be funneled back to citizens whose data had been lifted by hackers. The bill would also set up a director and office of cybersecurity that would perform regular checks on the IT security of credit agencies and could fine businesses up to 75 per cent of their annual gross revenues for egregious computer defense failings.
...
...

Despite widespread outrage over the scale of the Equifax hack that was revealed in September – which exposed the private data of over 143 million Americans, more than 15 million Brits, and goodness knows who else – the firm has faced no fines or fallout, other than some tax-deductible clean-up charges.
..
..
The draft law has to clear the Senate and House of Reps before it gets anywhere near President Trump's pen.
 
Last edited:

About us

  • MalwareTips is a community-driven platform providing the latest information and resources on malware and cyber threats. Our team of experienced professionals and passionate volunteers work to keep the internet safe and secure. We provide accurate, up-to-date information and strive to build a strong and supportive community dedicated to cybersecurity.

User Menu

Follow us

Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to know first about the latest cybersecurity incidents and malware threats.

Top