Two Democrats, NCL Disappointed With Bipartisan Data Breach Bill
Some Democrats and the National Consumers League (NCL) are disappointed with the draft of the Data Security and Breach Notification Act released Thursday by Reps. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Peter Welch, D-Vt. (see 1503120065). “We have numerous…
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concerns about the weakening of consumer protections overall, as well as the dilution of protections of customers of telecommunications and cable services," said Reps. Frank Pallone of New Jersey and Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, Democrats, in a joint statement Thursday. Data breaches “create serious harm to consumers and businesses alike, and this bill does not provide solutions,” they said. The bill reduces consumer protections and pre-empts stronger existing state laws, said NCL Vice President Public Policy-Telecommunications and Fraud John Breyault. The bill doesn't include protections for information such as email addresses and "creates a disincentive for companies to notify affected consumers," Breyault said. Welch, who co-wrote the bipartisan legislation, called the draft “far from perfect” but an “important step.” Pallone and Schakowsky said they will “continue to work for legislation that provides the strongest possible safeguards and protections for American consumers.”