Target Breach Prompts New Data Privacy Legislation
Spurred by the recent Target data breach, Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Wednesday introduced the Personal Data Privacy and Security Act for the fourth time since 2005. The measure would establish a national standard for business data breach notifications to consumers, and require customer data protection standards for companies that gather sensitive personal data. In addition, the bill would update the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act to make attempted computer hacking and conspiracy to commit computer hacking punishable under the same criminal penalties that apply to actual hacking. Leahy says the committee will hold a data privacy hearing early in the new Senate session. In a statement on Wednesday, Leahy said Target’s recent data breach “is a reminder that developing a comprehensive national strategy to protect data privacy and cybersecurity remains one of the most challenging and important issues facing our nation.”
From “Leahy’s Perennial Data Privacy Bill Gets Another Shot”
CNet (01/08/14) Rosenblatt, Seth