Issue Position: Technology and Innovation - Privacy

Issue Position

The issue of personal privacy is one that the American people feel to the core of their being. When any of us provide an institution with personal information, we want to be sure that the information is used in the narrowest sense, and that the information will be protected from misuse or theft. At a minimum, companies should be required to disclose if they buy or sell consumer information or if they track the whereabouts of Internet surfers even after they've left a company's website. Consumers should be given the opportunity to opt-out of this use of their information.

There is a growing need for protection of individual privacy, and as a Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Rep. Eshoo will be actively involved in congressional efforts to implement sound, strong privacy laws to protect consumers and prevent fraud and identity theft. Through the combined efforts of government and industry, Rep. Eshoo hopes to develop privacy legislation that will give consumers control over their own privacy and require the private sector to be a responsible steward of their personal information.

As part of these efforts, Rep. Eshoo has cosponsored a package of legislation to address pressing issues related to consumer privacy, data security, and identity theft:

* H.R. 936, the Prevention of Fraudulent Access to Phone Records Act, prohibits the "pretexting" of phone records and enhances security requirements for customer phone records and network information. Pretexting involves using fraud or deception to obtain access to customer phone records from the telephone carrier. The most notorious example of this practice came to light in connection with the investigation by Hewlett-Packard's Board of Directors into leaks by members of the Board.

* H.R. 948, the Social Security Number Protection Act, strengthens the authority of the federal government to protect individuals from abusive acts and practices in the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers.

* H.R. 958, the Data Accountability and Trust Act (or DATA), protects consumers by requiring any entity engaged in interstate commerce to have reasonable security policies and procedures to protect data containing personal information, and to provide for nationwide notice in the event of a security breach.

* H.R. 964, the Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act (or SPY ACT), protects users of the Internet from unknowing transmission of the personally identifiable information through spyware programs.

Source