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Here are ChoicePoint’s positions on future regulation
of our industry:
Accountability
We support independent oversight and increased accountability
for all entities – including the public sector,
academia and other private sector organizations –
that handle sensitive personal data, including public
record data. Identity theft is not a crime that contains
itself to a particular industry and, as such, we believe
laws and regulations should not be limited to companies
like ChoicePoint.
ChoicePoint supports increased resources for law enforcement
efforts to combat identity theft business fraud as well
as stronger penalties for the theft of personally identifiable
data.
Consumer notification laws
We are mindful of the concern federal and state regulators
and legislators have regarding the protection of consumer
information. In fact, we testified before the Congress
of the United States and the California state senate
and we believe for consumer notification to be effective,
there needs to be a nationwide standard. That is why
we support a preemptive, nationwide notification law.
Identity theft is a crime that does not stay inside
state borders. We believe consumers’ interests
are best protected by one uniform policy.
Fair Credit Reporting Act
We support expanding the principles of the Fair Credit
Reporting Act to public record data uses. That means
providing a right of access and a right to question
the accuracy of public filing information used to make
decisions about people. There are technical and logistical
issues to be solved, but they are solvable.
Access
to your personal information
ChoicePoint supports providing consumers with the right
to access and question the accuracy of public record
information used to make decisions about them.
ChoicePoint provides consumers with access to their
public records data through our ChoiceTrust
Web site. Consumers can visit this Web site and
order a free report of a public records search report
about themselves, as well as copies of their free reports
available under the FACT Act. Consumers also have an
opportunity to correct any mistakes.
Identity theft help
We learned that there are few places for consumers
to turn for help if their identity is stolen. This alone
increases the fear and anxiety associated with identity
theft. For this reason, we have recently formed a partnership
with the Identity
Theft Resource Center - a leading and well-respected
non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to assisting
identity theft victims.
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Protecting Yourself
