NCL to FCC: Consumers’ data security is too important to wait – National Consumers League

February 24, 2017

Contact: Cindy Hoang, NCL, cindyh@nclnet.org, (202) 207-2832

Washington, DC–The National Consumers League, America’s pioneering consumer and worker advocacy organization is profoundly disappointed in the decision by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to suspend the implementation of critically-needed data security rules.

The following statement is attributable to John Breyault, NCL vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud:

“At a time when literally billions of consumers’ records — many containing sensitive personal information — are compromised on a seemingly daily basis, it is inconceivable that Chairman Pai would halt the implementation of the FCC’s data security rules at practically the last minute. That this action was taken as part of the ‘Friday news dump’ suggests that the new leadership at the FCC wanted to sweep this anti-consumer decision under the rug. All one need do is look at the staggering rates of identity theft linked to data breaches to understand the need for stronger data security protections. Last year, the FCC took the common-sense step of requiring Internet service providers — the gateways through which practically all consumer data flows — to abide by reasonable data security protections. Instead of allowing these much-needed protections to take effect, Chairman Pai has instead decided to leave consumers’ data at greater risk.”

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.