WASHINGTON, DC - Bipartisan leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee today requested a report from the Government Accountability Office on the efficacy of providing credit monitoring for consumers following data breaches. With more and more Americans’ information put at risk by data breaches and cyber attacks, the committee leaders are asking the nonpartisan government watchdog for a report on how the government and private sector provide post-breach protections for consumers.
“In the last several years, we have seen numerous reports of massive data breaches involving Americans’ personal information. Data breaches can result in personal information being acquired by cybercriminals to perpetrate identity theft, which can lead to financial consequences for victims - both individuals and the entities that are breached - and can take months or sometimes years to resolve. Unfortunately, neither the private sector nor the federal government have been immune to these breaches," wrote the leaders.
They continued, “We therefore request that the Government Accountability Office undertake a review of credit monitoring and other post-breach identity theft services and provide recommendations to enhance consumer protection."
The letter was signed by:
* Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ);
* Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) and Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky (D-IL); and
* Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO).
The leaders have also requested information and briefings from the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regarding post-breach protections for consumers. More on those requests here. Related Items
* Bipartisan Letter to GAO on Post-Breach Protections
* Bipartisan Committee Leaders Call for Better Post-Breach Protections for Consumers
* Letters to FTC and CFPB Regarding Post-Breach Protections for Consumers
