[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E12]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF CONSUMERS AND REDUCE 
                 THEIR VULNERABILITY TO IDENTITY THEFT

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 3, 2017

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing the ``Cyber Privacy 
Fortification Act of 2017.'' This bill would provide criminal penalties 
for the failure to comply with federal or state obligations to report 
security breaches of the sensitive personally identifiable information 
of individuals. Certain breaches would also be required to be reported 
to the FBI or the Secret Service. The bill would also require federal 
agencies engaged in rulemaking related to personally identifiable 
information to publish privacy impact statements relating to the impact 
of the proposed rule.
  One of the main motivators for cybercrime and computer network 
intrusions is financial gain. Intrusions into networks of financial 
institutions and businesses may yield information, often on a large 
scale, about customers such as credit and debit card numbers, Social 
Security numbers, birth dates, account passwords, and other personally 
identifiable information. Information obtained through such data 
breaches may be used to steal from the accounts of the customers, use 
their credit cards, hack into their personal communications, or the 
information may be sold to others who commit these crimes or compile 
provides about individuals which others might find valuable.
  With constant revelations about new data breaches impacting millions 
of Americans, we must take additional steps to protect the sensitive 
information of consumers maintained on corporate databases. This bill 
will provide a greater incentive for companies to provide notice of 
breaches consumers' sensitive information such as Social Security 
numbers and financial account numbers. This protects the privacy of our 
citizens and allows them to be vigilant against identity theft.

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