Friday, June 16, 2006

Hillary on privacy rights

Hillary calls for "Privacy Bill of Rights"

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And here's are some highlights, provided by the American Constitution Society:

-Senator Clinton's Privacy Bill will be known as the Privacy Rights and Oversight for Electronic and Commercial Transactions Act of 2006 (PROTECT Act)

-The PROTECT Act will protect consumer information by allowing credit card companies, banks and other financial service providers to share information only when customers "opt it." Current law requires consumers to opt out.

-It will protect cell phone numbers and call records against disclosure.

-It will allow victims of identity theft to immediately freeze their credit rating.

-It will allow consumers to sue financial service providers directly in federal court for violations of their privacy.

-It will create a right to be notified immediately if you are a victim of identity theft, to know when your information is transmitted overseas, and to receive a free copy of your credit report each year.

-It will create a "privacy czar" within the Office of Management and Budget.

-It will expand HIPAA by adding additional sanctions to ensure violators are held accountable.

In her speech, Clinton said she was inspired by the recent theft of Veteran's Administration record that you have blogged about. She also included several skillful digs against the administration, including one to the effect of "we must be better prepared to deal with privacy that we were to deal with hurricanes."


(Americablog)
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An excellent idea and a winning idea! Hopefully, the American public will see how important this is and the anti-privacy repugs in the bush administration won't be able to continue to destroy our rights.