Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, PRIVACY NEWS: FTC Chairwoman renews call for Congress to act on data breach legislation, (May 9, 2014)

By John Curran,TR Daily

FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez yesterday renewed her call for Congress to pass national data breach legislation, of which several versions have been introduced in the House and Senate.

Speaking at an event organized by the Media Institute, Ramirez noted that while she was pleased by last month’s decision by a federal district court judge in New Jersey that upheld the FTC’s authority to regulate private sector data security standards – in that case against Wyndham Hotels and Resorts – that “the time has come for Congress to take action” on national data breach legislation that would give the FTC authority to seek civil penalties against violators.

She voiced similar sentiments at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing earlier this year.

“I am concerned that may companies under-invest in data security,” she said today, as well as fail to take “basic security precautions” such as ensuring strong passwords.

Also, Ramirez reiterated her call for the setting of “sensible limits” on the collection of consumer data, including making sure that data is collected for “specific business purposes,” and that consumers are given “simple choices” to allow them to restrict the collection of their data.

News: Privacy ConsumerProtection FederalTradeCommissionNews