News

Obama proposes legislation on data breach notification

With today's introduction of proposed legislation, President Obama will expand on the BuySecure initiative he announced last October.

January 12, 2015

At the FTC offices today, President Obama will expand on the BuySecure initiative he announced last year, unveiling proposed legislation to protect American companies, consumers, and infrastructure from cyber threats.

According to a White House fact sheet, Obama also will discuss this plan in his State of the Union Address to the nation from the House Chamber on Jan. 20 at 9 p.m. ET.

Of particular note is the proposed Personal Data Notification & Protection Act. According to the fact sheet: 

This proposal clarifies and strengthens the obligations companies have to notify customers when their personal information has been exposed, including establishing a 30-day notification requirement from the discovery of a breach, while providing companies with the certainty of a single, national standard.  The proposal also criminalizes illicit overseas trade in identities.