Obama Unveils Bills to Safeguard Consumer Data (Jan. 13, 2015)
President Obama is throwing support behind new legislation to further protect consumers from data breaches, while backing another new bill that would prevent companies from misusing student data. At a Federal Trade Commission presentation Jan. 12, President Obama outlined the Personal Data Notification & Protection Act, which would require U.S. companies to notify customers within 30 days of discovering a breach and criminalizes illicit overseas trade in identities. The law would create “a single strong, national standard” for disclosing breaches, versus the existing patchwork of state laws, he explained. The President praised financial institutions that have made it possible for customers to check their credit reports free of charge.
President Obama also outlined details of the proposed Student Digital Privacy Act, which aims to prevent companies from selling student data to third parties or using information they collect at schools for advertising and marketing. Modeled on California’s student data privacy law, the bill would permit the ongoing use of student data for research initiatives and improving the effectiveness of educational technology. The President commended 75 companies, including Apple and Microsoft, that already have agreed to protect the privacy of students, teachers and parents.
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