Privacy

Congress could gut finacial privacy law;

September 18, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>California's strong regulations in danger of being pre-empted</h3><p class="source">San Mateo County Times</p> <p>"What the banks and the GOP really want is the ability to commit uniform privacy violations, not state's rights to protect consumers," said Jerry Flanagan, a spokesman for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Midnight in the state Capitol

September 14, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>2003 legislative session ends with bills being voted on into the wee hours.</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register</p> <p>Of the 2,867 new laws that legislators proposed back in January, about 100 remain to be dealt with by midnight, the official end of the 2003 legislative session. The procrastination-induced fury that will transpire this day is a once-a-year ritual</p>

House OKs Bill to Help Protect Identity

September 11, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>In the end, said Jamie Court, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, "this fight will be decided in the Senate and by whether President Bush is forced to live up to his campaign promises on privacy rights."</p>

Bustamante’s many friendships are a blessing and a curse

September 7, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"Cruz is a player," said activist Jaime Court, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "There are lawmakers who can take special interest money and then tell them to go to hell. Cruz didn't do that."</p>

Anti-Terrorist Rules Make It Harder to Open New Bank, Brokerage Account

September 6, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Baltimore Sun (Maryland)</p> <p>"The concern is that we have so little control over our private information that every time we open the door a little, so much more information escapes.", said Doug Heller, a senior consumer advocate for FTCR.</p>

Maintaining Uniform Standards In Credit Reporting System

September 4, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Tampa Tribune (Florida)</p> <p>FTCR revealed it had purchased the Social Security numbers of CIA Director George Tenet and Attorney General John Ashcroft over the Internet for as little as $26. The point, of course, is that it is all too easy to receive what should be private informati</p>

Identity theft widespread, study shows;

September 4, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>State law could hinder efforts to fight it</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Advocates of the state's new financial privacy law, which was enacted last month after a four-year battle, said the FTC and the Bush admin. were ignoring an obvious solution to the problem of identity theft because of the powerful banking lobby</p>

To root out identity theft, set restrictions in workplace

September 3, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Detroit Free Press</p> <p>The California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said it paid an online site $26 to get the Social Security numbers and home addresses of several top Bush administration officials. The group's stunt showed the need for stronger protection</p>

PROTECTING PRIVACY; NORTH COAST BANKS WELCOME STATE LAW TO KEEP CUSTOMERS’ INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL;

August 31, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>SWEEPING CONSUMER BILL FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING</h3><p class="source">The Press Democrat</p> <p>"Banks and insurers should not be able to go to Washington as an end-run around the most protective state privacy laws," said Jamie Court, executive director of the California-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Would-be investor runs afoul of Patriot Act

August 28, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Consumer advocates also fear the Patriot Act will give companies another reason to invade privacy and prevent some people without criminal intent from opening accounts. "This ranges between stupid, insidious and dangerous," says Doug Heller with FTCR.</p>

Privacy group gets CIA chief’s personal data for 26 dollars

August 28, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Agence France Presse</p> <p>"While Bush has the Secret Service to protect him, the 750,000 American victims of identity theft each year are counting on the president to identify more with their needs than the corporations'.", said Jamie Court, executive director with FTCR.</p>

New state privacy law threatened;

August 28, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Federal law could block bills protecting financial information</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>"Ideally, there should be a strong national law. Consumers should have the right to say no to affiliate sharing." said Jamie Court of Santa Monica's Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumers Rights, while in Washington.</p>