Eight House lawmakers asked nine data brokerage companies how they...
Eight House lawmakers asked nine data brokerage companies how they collect, use and sell consumer information, in letters sent Tuesday (http://xrl.us/bnh6ry). The lawmakers warned Acxiom, Alliance Data Systems, Equifax, Experian, Harte-Hanks, Intelius, FICO, Merkle and Meredith Corp. that large-scale aggregation…
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of personal information raises “a number of serious privacy concerns.” The brokers’ ranking and classification systems could have long-term impacts on citizens’ access to education, health care, employment and other economic opportunities, the letters said. Children and teens are particularly at risk, the letters said in asking each company if they collect information on teens and children and what exactly is collected. Reps. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Joe Barton, R-Texas, chairmen of the Congressional Privacy Caucus; House Commerce Committee Ranking Member Henry Waxman, D-Calif.; Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C.; Steve Chabot, R-Ohio; ; Austin Scott, R-Ga.; Bobby Rush, D-Ill.; and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., asked for lists of each entity providing consumer information to the brokers and what kind of information was collected since January 2009. The letters asked each company to explain what services it offers to third parties, and whether consumers can access or correct their data. The companies were asked whether consumers can opt out of the use or sharing of their information and details on how such an opt-out is offered. The data brokers were also asked how consumer information is collected and what security is used to ensure that the data is safeguarded. Responses are due Aug. 15.