Schakowsky reintroduces data protection bill ahead of Equifax hearing

Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Ranking Member of the Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittee, reintroduced her Secure and Protect Americans’ Data Act (SPADA) in advance of former Equifax CEO Richard Smith’s appearance in her subcommittee tomorrow. The bill would enhance data security and require prompt notification and ongoing assistance to consumers in the event of a breach.

“Equifax jeopardized the data security of 143 million Americans, and it responded incompetently in the aftermath. We don’t just need answers. We need action.

“Today, I am reintroducing the Secure and Protect Americans’ Data Act to ensure that companies take sufficient steps to protect consumers’ data, promptly notify law enforcement and consumers if a data breach occurs, and provide meaningful relief to breach victims. Equifax proves yet again that we can’t trust companies to act on their own to protect consumer data. Consumers may not even know which companies are collecting their data in the first place. At our subcommittee hearing, I will seek answers from Equifax on behalf of the victims of this breach. As members of Congress learn what happened in this case, we must also work together to establish stronger security measures and better information for consumers going forward.”