Library / Laws / 113th / hr / H.R. 4400 / Introduced in House
I
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4400
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 4, 2014
Mr. Rush (for himself, Mr. Barton, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. McNerney, and Ms. Schakowsky) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To protect consumers by requiring reasonable security policies and procedures to protect data
containing personal information, and to provide for nationwide notice in
the event of a security breach.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Data Accountability and Trust Act.
2.
Requirements for information security
(a)
General security policies and procedures
(1)
Regulations
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate
regulations under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, to require
each person engaged in interstate commerce that owns or possesses data
containing personal information, or contracts to have any third party
entity maintain such data for such person, to establish and implement
policies and procedures regarding information security practices for the
treatment and protection of personal information taking into
consideration—
(A) the size of, and the nature, scope, and complexity of the activities engaged in by, such person;
(B) the current state of the art in administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for protecting
such information; and
(C) the cost of implementing such safeguards.
(2)
Requirements
Such regulations shall require the policies and procedures to include the following:
(A) A security policy with respect to the collection, use, sale, other dissemination, and maintenance
of such personal information.
(B) The identification of an officer or other individual as the point of contact with responsibility
for the management of information security.
(C) A process for identifying and assessing any reasonably foreseeable vulnerabilities in the system or
systems maintained by such person that contains such data, which shall
include regular monitoring for a breach of security of such system or
systems.
(D) A process for taking preventive and corrective action to mitigate against any vulnerabilities
identified in the process required by subparagraph (C), which may include
implementing any changes to security practices and the architecture,
installation, or implementation of network or operating software.
(E) A process for disposing of data in electronic form containing personal information by shredding,
permanently erasing, or otherwise modifying the personal information
contained in such data to make such personal information permanently
unreadable or undecipherable.
(F) A standard method or methods for the destruction of paper documents and other non-electronic data
containing personal information.
(3)
Treatment of entities governed by other law
Any person who is in compliance with any other Federal law that requires such person to maintain
standards and safeguards for information security and protection of
personal information that, taken as a whole and as the Commission shall
determine in the rulemaking required under paragraph (1), provide
protections substantially similar to, or greater than, those required
under this subsection, shall be deemed to be in compliance with this
subsection.
(b)
Special requirements for information brokers
(1)
Submission of policies to the FTC
The regulations promulgated under subsection (a) shall require each information broker to submit
its security policies to the Commission in conjunction with a notification
of a breach of security under section 3 or upon request of the Commission.
(2)
Post-breach audit
For any information broker required to provide notification under section 3, the Commission may
conduct audits of the information security practices of such information
broker, or require the information broker to conduct independent audits of
such practices (by an independent auditor who has not audited such
information broker’s security practices during the preceding 5 years).
(3)
Accuracy of and individual access to personal information
(A)
Accuracy
(i)
In general
Each information broker shall establish reasonable procedures to assure the maximum possible
accuracy of the personal information it collects, assembles, or maintains,
and any other information it collects, assembles, or maintains that
specifically identifies an individual, other than information which merely
identifies an individual’s name or address.
(ii)
Limited exception for fraud databases
The requirement in clause (i) shall not prevent the collection or maintenance of information that
may be inaccurate with respect to a particular individual when that
information is being collected or maintained solely—
(I) for the purpose of indicating whether there may be a discrepancy or irregularity in the personal
information that is associated with an individual; and
(II) to help identify, or authenticate the identity of, an individual, or to protect against or
investigate fraud or other unlawful conduct.
(B)
Consumer access to information
(i)
Access
Each information broker shall—
(I) provide to each individual whose personal information it maintains, at the individual’s request at
least 1 time per year and at no cost to the individual, and after
verifying the identity of such individual, a means for the individual to
review any personal information regarding such individual maintained by
the information broker and any other information maintained by the
information broker that specifically identifies such individual, other
than information which merely identifies an individual’s name or address;
and
(II) place a conspicuous notice on its Internet website (if the information broker maintains such a
website) instructing individuals how to request access to the information
required to be provided under subclause (I), and, as applicable, how to
express a preference with respect to the use of personal information for
marketing purposes under clause (iii).
(ii)
Disputed information
Whenever an individual whose information the information broker maintains makes a written request
disputing the accuracy of any such information, the information broker,
after verifying the identity of the individual making such request and
unless there are reasonable grounds to believe such request is frivolous
or irrelevant, shall—
(I) correct any inaccuracy; or
(II)
(aa) in the case of information that is public record information, inform the individual of the source
of the information, and, if reasonably available, where a request for
correction may be directed and, if the individual provides proof that the
public record has been corrected or that the information broker was
reporting the information incorrectly, correct the inaccuracy in the
information broker’s records; or
(bb) in the case of information that is non-public information, note the information that is disputed,
including the individual’s statement disputing such information, and take
reasonable steps to independently verify such information under the
procedures outlined in subparagraph (A) if such information can be
independently verified.
(iii)
Alternative procedure for certain marketing information
In accordance with regulations issued under clause (v), an information broker that maintains any
information described in clause (i) which is used, shared, or sold by such
information broker for marketing purposes, may, in lieu of complying with
the access and dispute requirements set forth in clauses (i) and (ii),
provide each individual whose information it maintains with a reasonable
means of expressing a preference not to have his or her information used
for such purposes. If the individual expresses such a preference, the
information broker may not use, share, or sell the individual’s
information for marketing purposes.
(iv)
Limitations
An information broker may limit the access to information required under clause (i)(I) and is not
required to provide notice to individuals as required under clause (i)(II)
in the following circumstances:
(I) If access of the individual to the information is limited by law or legally recognized privilege.
(II) If the information is used for a legitimate governmental or fraud prevention purpose that would be
compromised by such access.
(III) If the information consists of a published media record, unless that record has been included in a
report about an individual shared with a third party.
(v)
Rulemaking
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate
regulations under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, to carry out
this paragraph and to facilitate the purposes of this Act. In addition,
the Commission shall issue regulations, as necessary, under section 553 of
title 5, United States Code, on the scope of the application of the
limitations in clause (iv), including any additional circumstances in
which an information broker may limit access to information under such
clause that the Commission determines to be appropriate.
(C)
FCRA regulated persons
Any information broker who is engaged in activities subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act and
who is in compliance with sections 609, 610, and 611 of such Act (15
U.S.C. 1681g; 1681h; 1681i) with respect to information subject to such
Act, shall be deemed to be in compliance with this paragraph with respect
to such information.
(4)
Requirement of audit log of accessed and transmitted information
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate
regulations under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, to require
information brokers to establish measures which facilitate the auditing or
retracing of any internal or external access to, or transmissions of, any
data containing personal information collected, assembled, or maintained
by such information broker.
(5)
Prohibition on pretexting by information brokers
(A)
Prohibition on obtaining personal information by false pretenses
It shall be unlawful for an information broker to obtain or attempt to obtain, or cause to be
disclosed or attempt to cause to be disclosed to any person, personal
information or any other information relating to any person by—
(i) making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation to any person; or
(ii) providing any document or other information to any person that the information broker knows or
should know to be forged, counterfeit, lost, stolen, or fraudulently
obtained, or to contain a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or
representation.
(B)
Prohibition on solicitation to obtain personal information under false pretenses
It shall be unlawful for an information broker to request a person to obtain personal information
or any other information relating to any other person, if the information
broker knew or should have known that the person to whom such a request is
made will obtain or attempt to obtain such information in the manner
described in subparagraph (A).
(c)
Exemption for certain service providers
Nothing in this section shall apply to a service provider for any electronic communication by a
third party that is transmitted, routed, or stored in intermediate or
transient storage by such service provider.
3.
Notification of information security breach
(a)
Nationwide Notification
Any person engaged in interstate commerce that owns or possesses data in electronic form containing
personal information shall, following the discovery of a breach of
security of the system maintained by such person that contains such data—
(1) notify each individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States whose personal information
was acquired or accessed as a result of such a breach of security; and
(2) notify the Commission.
(b)
Special Notification Requirements
(1)
Third party agents
In the event of a breach of security by any third party entity that has been contracted to maintain
or process data in electronic form containing personal information on
behalf of any other person who owns or possesses such data, such third
party entity shall be required to notify such person of the breach of
security. Upon receiving such notification from such third party, such
person shall provide the notification required under subsection (a).
(2)
Service providers
If a service provider becomes aware of a breach of security of data in electronic form containing
personal information that is owned or possessed by another person that
connects to or uses a system or network provided by the service provider
for the purpose of transmitting, routing, or providing intermediate or
transient storage of such data, such service provider shall be required to
notify of such a breach of security only the person who initiated such
connection, transmission, routing, or storage if such person can be
reasonably identified. Upon receiving such notification from a service
provider, such person shall provide the notification required under
subsection (a).
(3)
Coordination of notification with consumer reporting agencies
If a person is required to provide notification to more than 5,000 individuals under subsection
(a)(1), the person shall also notify the major consumer reporting agencies
of the timing and distribution of the notices. Such notice shall be given
to the consumer reporting agencies without unreasonable delay and, if it
will not delay notice to the affected individuals, prior to the
distribution of notices to the affected individuals.
(c)
Timeliness of Notification
(1)
In general
Unless subject to a delay authorized under paragraph (2), a notification required under subsection
(a) shall be made not later than 60 days following the discovery of a
breach of security, unless the person providing notice can show that
providing notice within such a time frame is not feasible due to
extraordinary circumstances necessary to prevent further breach or
unauthorized disclosures, and reasonably restore the integrity of the data
system, in which case such notification shall be made as promptly as
possible.
(2)
Delay of Notification Authorized for Law Enforcement or National Security Purposes
(A)
Law enforcement
If a Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency determines that the notification required
under this section would impede a civil or criminal investigation, such
notification shall be delayed upon the written request of the law
enforcement agency for 30 days or such lesser period of time which the law
enforcement agency determines is reasonably necessary and requests in
writing. A law enforcement agency may, by a subsequent written request,
revoke such delay or extend the period of time set forth in the original
request made under this paragraph if further delay is necessary.
(B)
National security
If a Federal national security agency or homeland security agency determines that the notification
required under this section would threaten national or homeland security,
such notification may be delayed for a period of time which the national
security agency or homeland security agency determines is reasonably
necessary and requests in writing. A Federal national security agency or
homeland security agency may revoke such delay or extend the period of
time set forth in the original request made under this paragraph by a
subsequent written request if further delay is necessary.
(d)
Method and Content of Notification
(1)
Direct notification
(A)
Method of notification
A person required to provide notification to individuals under subsection (a)(1) shall be in
compliance with such requirement if the person provides conspicuous and
clearly identified notification by one of the following methods (provided
the selected method can reasonably be expected to reach the intended
individual):
(i) Written notification.
(ii) Notification by email or other electronic means, if—
(I) the person’s primary method of communication with the individual is by email or such other
electronic means; or
(II) the individual has consented to receive such notification and the notification is provided in a
manner that is consistent with the provisions permitting electronic
transmission of notices under section 101 of the Electronic Signatures in
Global and National Commerce Act (15 U.S.C. 7001).
(B)
Content of notification
Regardless of the method by which notification is provided to an individual under subparagraph (A),
such notification shall include—
(i) a description of the personal information that was acquired or accessed by an unauthorized person;
(ii) a telephone number that the individual may use, at no cost to such individual, to contact the
person to inquire about the breach of security or the information the
person maintained about that individual;
(iii) notice that the individual is entitled to receive, at no cost to such individual, consumer credit
reports on a quarterly basis for a period of 2 years, or credit monitoring
or other service that enables consumers to detect the misuse of their
personal information for a period of 2 years, and instructions to the
individual on requesting such reports or service from the person, except
when the only information which has been the subject of the security
breach is the individual’s first name or initial and last name, or
address, or phone number, in combination with a credit or debit card
number, and any required security code;
(iv) the toll-free contact telephone numbers and addresses for the major consumer reporting agencies;
and
(v) a toll-free telephone number and Internet website address for the Commission whereby the individual
may obtain information regarding identity theft.
(2)
Substitute notification
(A)
Circumstances giving rise to substitute notification
A person required to provide notification to individuals under subsection (a)(1) may provide
substitute notification in lieu of the direct notification required by
paragraph (1) if the person owns or possesses data in electronic form
containing personal information of fewer than 1,000 individuals and such
direct notification is not feasible due to—
(i) excessive cost to the person required to provide such notification relative to the resources of
such person, as determined in accordance with the regulations issued by
the Commission under paragraph (3)(A); or
(ii) lack of sufficient contact information for the individual required to be notified.
(B)
Form of substitute notification
Such substitute notification shall include—
(i) email notification to the extent that the person has email addresses of individuals to whom it is
required to provide notification under subsection (a)(1);
(ii) a conspicuous notice on the Internet website of the person (if such person maintains such a
website); and
(iii) notification in print and to broadcast media, including major media in metropolitan and rural areas
where the individuals whose personal information was acquired reside.
(C)
Content of substitute notice
Each form of substitute notice under this paragraph shall include—
(i) notice that individuals whose personal information is included in the breach of security are
entitled to receive, at no cost to the individuals, consumer credit
reports on a quarterly basis for a period of 2 years, or credit monitoring
or other service that enables consumers to detect the misuse of their
personal information for a period of 2 years, and instructions on
requesting such reports or service from the person, except when the only
information which has been the subject of the security breach is the
individual’s first name or initial and last name, or address, or phone
number, in combination with a credit or debit card number, and any
required security code; and
(ii) a telephone number by which an individual can, at no cost to such individual, learn whether that
individual’s personal information is included in the breach of security.
(3)
Regulations and guidance
(A)
Regulations
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall, by regulation
under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, establish criteria for
determining circumstances under which substitute notification may be
provided under paragraph (2), including criteria for determining if
notification under paragraph (1) is not feasible due to excessive costs to
the person required to provided such notification relative to the
resources of such person. Such regulations may also identify other
circumstances where substitute notification would be appropriate for any
person, including circumstances under which the cost of providing
notification exceeds the benefits to consumers.
(B)
Guidance
In addition, the Commission shall provide and publish general guidance with respect to compliance
with this subsection. Such guidance shall include—
(i) a description of written or email notification that complies with the requirements of paragraph
(1); and
(ii) guidance on the content of substitute notification under paragraph (2), including the extent of
notification to print and broadcast media that complies with the
requirements of such paragraph.
(e)
Other Obligations Following Breach
(1)
In general
A person required to provide notification under subsection (a) shall, upon request of an individual
whose personal information was included in the breach of security, provide
or arrange for the provision of, to each such individual and at no cost to
such individual—
(A) consumer credit reports from at least one of the major consumer reporting agencies beginning not
later than 60 days following the individual’s request and continuing on a
quarterly basis for a period of 2 years thereafter; or
(B) a credit monitoring or other service that enables consumers to detect the misuse of their personal
information, beginning not later than 60 days following the individual’s
request and continuing for a period of 2 years.
(2)
Limitation
This subsection shall not apply if the only personal information which has been the subject of the
security breach is the individual’s first name or initial and last name,
or address, or phone number, in combination with a credit or debit card
number, and any required security code.
(3)
Rulemaking
As part of the Commission’s rulemaking described in subsection (d)(3), the Commission shall
determine the circumstances under which a person required to provide
notification under subsection (a)(1) shall provide or arrange for the
provision of free consumer credit reports or credit monitoring or other
service to affected individuals.
(f)
Exemption
(1)
General exemption
A person shall be exempt from the requirements under this section if, following a breach of
security, such person determines that there is no reasonable risk of
identity theft, fraud, or other unlawful conduct.
(2)
Presumption
(A)
In general
If the data in electronic form containing personal information is rendered unusable, unreadable, or
indecipherable through encryption or other security technology or
methodology (if the method of encryption or such other technology or
methodology is generally accepted by experts in the information security
field), there shall be a presumption that no reasonable risk of identity
theft, fraud, or other unlawful conduct exists following a breach of
security of such data. Any such presumption may be rebutted by facts
demonstrating that the encryption or other security technologies or
methodologies in a specific case, have been or are reasonably likely to be
compromised.
(B)
methodologies or technologies
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and biannually thereafter, the
Commission shall issue rules (pursuant to section 553 of title 5, United
States Code) or guidance to identify security methodologies or
technologies which render data in electronic form unusable, unreadable, or
indecipherable, that shall, if applied to such data, establish a
presumption that no reasonable risk of identity theft, fraud, or other
unlawful conduct exists following a breach of security of such data. Any
such presumption may be rebutted by facts demonstrating that any such
methodology or technology in a specific case has been or is reasonably
likely to be compromised. In issuing such rules or guidance, the
Commission shall consult with relevant industries, consumer organizations,
and data security and identity theft prevention experts and established
standards setting bodies.
(3)
FTC guidance
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act the Commission shall issue
guidance regarding the application of the exemption in paragraph (1).
(g)
Website Notice of Federal Trade Commission
If the Commission, upon receiving notification of any breach of security that is reported to the
Commission under subsection (a)(2), finds that notification of such a
breach of security via the Commission’s Internet website would be in the
public interest or for the protection of consumers, the Commission shall
place such a notice in a clear and conspicuous location on its Internet
website.
(h)
FTC Study on Notification in Languages in Addition to English
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall conduct a study
on the practicality and cost effectiveness of requiring the notification
required by subsection (d)(1) to be provided in a language in addition to
English to individuals known to speak only such other language.
(i)
General rulemaking authority
The Commission may promulgate regulations necessary under section 553 of title 5, United States
Code, to effectively enforce the requirements of this section.
(j)
Treatment of persons governed by other law
A person who is in compliance with any other Federal law that requires such person to provide
notification to individuals following a breach of security, and that,
taken as a whole, provides protections substantially similar to, or
greater than, those required under this section, as the Commission shall
determine by rule (under section 553 of title 5, United States Code),
shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section.
4.
Application and Enforcement
(a)
General application
The requirements of sections 2 and 3 shall only apply to those persons, partnerships, or
corporations over which the Commission has authority pursuant to section
5(a)(2) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45(a)(2)).
(b)
Enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission
(1)
Unfair or deceptive acts or practices
A violation of section 2 or 3 shall be treated as an unfair and deceptive act or practice in
violation of a regulation under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)) regarding unfair or deceptive acts
or practices.
(2)
Powers of commission
The Commission shall enforce this Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same
jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and
provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were
incorporated into and made a part of this Act. Any person who violates
such regulations shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the
privileges and immunities provided in that Act.
(3)
Limitation
In promulgating rules under this Act, the Commission shall not require the deployment or use of any
specific products or technologies, including any specific computer
software or hardware.
(c)
Enforcement by State Attorneys General
(1)
Civil action
In any case in which the attorney general of a State, or an official or agency of a State, has
reason to believe that an interest of the residents of that State has been
or is threatened or adversely affected by any person who violates section
2 or 3 of this Act, the attorney general, official, or agency of the
State, as parens patriae, may bring a civil action on behalf of the
residents of the State in a district court of the United States of
appropriate jurisdiction—
(A) to enjoin further violation of such section by the defendant;
(B) to compel compliance with such section; or
(C) to obtain civil penalties in the amount determined under paragraph (2).
(2)
Civil penalties
(A)
Calculation
(i)
Treatment of violations of section 2
For purposes of paragraph (1)(C) with regard to a violation of section 2, the amount determined
under this paragraph is the amount calculated by multiplying the number of
days that a person is not in compliance with such section by an amount not
greater than $11,000.
(ii)
Treatment of violations of section 3
For purposes of paragraph (1)(C) with regard to a violation of section 3, the amount determined
under this paragraph is the amount calculated by multiplying the number of
violations of such section by an amount not greater than $11,000. Each
failure to send notification as required under section 3 to a resident of
the State shall be treated as a separate violation.
(B)
Adjustment for inflation
Beginning on the date that the Consumer Price Index is first published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics that is after 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act,
and each year thereafter, the amounts specified in clauses (i) and (ii) of
subparagraph (A) shall be increased by the percentage increase in the
Consumer Price Index published on that date from the Consumer Price Index
published the previous year.
(C)
Maximum total liability
Notwithstanding the number of actions which may be brought against a person under this subsection,
the maximum civil penalty for which any person may be liable under this
subsection shall not exceed—
(i) $5,000,000 for each violation of section 2; and
(ii) $5,000,000 for all violations of section 3 resulting from a single breach of security.
(3)
Intervention by the FTC
(A)
Notice and intervention
The State shall provide prior written notice of any action under paragraph (1) to the Commission
and provide the Commission with a copy of its complaint, except in any
case in which such prior notice is not feasible, in which case the State
shall serve such notice immediately upon instituting such action. The
Commission shall have the right—
(i) to intervene in the action;
(ii) upon so intervening, to be heard on all matters arising therein; and
(iii) to file petitions for appeal.
(B)
Limitation on state action while federal action is pending
If the Commission has instituted a civil action for violation of this Act, no State attorney
general, or official or agency of a State, may bring an action under this
subsection during the pendency of that action against any defendant named
in the complaint of the Commission for any violation of this Act alleged
in the complaint.
(4)
Construction
For purposes of bringing any civil action under paragraph (1), nothing in this Act shall be
construed to prevent an attorney general of a State from exercising the
powers conferred on the attorney general by the laws of that State to—
(A) conduct investigations;
(B) administer oaths or affirmations; or
(C) compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary and other evidence.
(d)
Affirmative Defense for a Violation of section 3
(1)
In general
It shall be an affirmative defense to an enforcement action brought under subsection (b), or a
civil action brought under subsection (c), based on a violation of section
3, that all of the personal information contained in the data in
electronic form that was acquired or accessed as a result of a breach of
security of the defendant is public record information that is lawfully
made available to the general public from Federal, State, or local
government records and was acquired by the defendant from such records.
(2)
No effect on other requirements
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to exempt any person from the requirement to notify
the Commission of a breach of security as required under section 3(a).
5.
Definitions
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1)
Breach of security
The term breach of security means the unauthorized acquisition of data in electronic form containing personal information.
(2)
Commission
The term Commission means the Federal Trade Commission.
(3)
Consumer reporting agency
The term consumer reporting agency has the meaning given the term consumer reporting agency that compiles and maintains files on consumers on a nationwide basis in section 603(p) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a(p)).
(4)
Data in electronic form
The term data in electronic form means any data stored electronically or digitally on any computer system or other database and
includes recordable tapes and other mass storage devices.
(5)
Encryption
The term encryption means the protection of data in electronic form in storage or in transit using an encryption
technology that has been adopted by an established standards setting body
which renders such data indecipherable in the absence of associated
cryptographic keys necessary to enable decryption of such data. Such
encryption must include appropriate management and safeguards of such keys
to protect the integrity of the encryption.
(6)
Identity theft
The term identity theft means the unauthorized use of another person’s personal information for the purpose of engaging in
commercial transactions under the name of such other person.
(7)
Information broker
The term information broker—
(A) means a commercial entity whose business is to collect, assemble, or maintain personal information
concerning individuals who are not current or former customers of such
entity in order to sell such information or provide access to such
information to any nonaffiliated third party in exchange for
consideration, whether such collection, assembly, or maintenance of
personal information is performed by the information broker directly, or
by contract or subcontract with any other entity; and
(B) does not include a commercial entity to the extent that such entity processes information collected
by and received from a nonaffiliated third party concerning individuals
who are current or former customers or employees of such third party to
enable such third party to (1) provide benefits for its employees or (2)
directly transact business with its customers.
(8)
Personal information
(A)
Definition
The term personal information means an individual’s first name or initial and last name, or address, or phone number, in
combination with any 1 or more of the following data elements for that
individual:
(i) Social Security number.
(ii) Driver’s license number, passport number, military identification number, or other similar number
issued on a government document used to verify identity.
(iii) Financial account number, or credit or debit card number, and any required security code, access
code, or password that is necessary to permit access to an individual’s
financial account.
(B)
Modified definition by rulemaking
The Commission may, by rule promulgated under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, modify
the definition of personal information under subparagraph (A)—
(i) for the purpose of section 2 to the extent that such modification will not unreasonably impede
interstate commerce, and will accomplish the purposes of this Act; or
(ii) for the purpose of section 3, to the extent that such modification is necessary to accommodate
changes in technology or practices, will not unreasonably impede
interstate commerce, and will accomplish the purposes of this Act.
(9)
Public record information
The term public record information means information about an individual which has been obtained originally from records of a
Federal, State, or local government entity that are available for public
inspection.
(10)
Non-public information
The term non-public information means information about an individual that is of a private nature and neither available to the
general public nor obtained from a public record.
(11)
Service provider
The term service provider means an entity that provides to a user transmission, routing, intermediate and transient storage,
or connections to its system or network, for electronic communications,
between or among points specified by such user of material of the user’s
choosing, without modification to the content of the material as sent or
received. Any such entity shall be treated as a service provider under
this Act only to the extent that it is engaged in the provision of such
transmission, routing, intermediate and transient storage or connections.
6.
Effect on other laws
(a)
Preemption of State Information Security Laws
This Act supersedes any provision of a statute, regulation, or rule of a State or political
subdivision of a State, with respect to those entities covered by the
regulations issued pursuant to this Act, that expressly—
(1) requires information security practices and treatment of data containing personal information
similar to any of those required under section 2; and
(2) requires notification to individuals of a breach of security resulting in unauthorized access to or
acquisition of data in electronic form containing personal information.
(b)
Additional Preemption
(1)
In general
No person other than a person specified in section 4(c) may bring a civil action under the laws of
any State if such action is premised in whole or in part upon the
defendant violating any provision of this Act.
(2)
Protection of consumer protection laws
This subsection shall not be construed to limit the enforcement of any State consumer protection
law by an attorney general of a State.
(c)
Protection of Certain State Laws
This Act shall not be construed to preempt the applicability of—
(1) State trespass, contract, or tort law; or
(2) other State laws to the extent that those laws relate to acts of fraud.
(d)
Preservation of FTC Authority
Nothing in this Act may be construed in any way to limit or affect the Commission’s authority under
any other provision of law.
7.
Effective date
This Act shall take effect 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.
8.
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commission $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011
through 2016 to carry out this Act.