The Federal Trade Commission has issued its final rule regarding the proper disposal of consumer report information and records under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
The final rule, similar to the proposed rule issued in April 2004, will become effective June 1, 2005. The final rule makes minor modifications to the proposed rule, including clarification of the definitions of “consumer information” and “disposal.”
The rule requires that covered entities “take reasonable measures to protect against unauthorized access to or use of the information in connection with its disposal.” The standard for disposal is flexible to allow entities covered by the rule to determine what measures are reasonable based on the sensitivity of the information, the costs and benefits of different disposal methods and relevant changes in technology over time. The rule’s flexibility should also facilitate compliance for smaller entities. The rule also includes specific examples of appropriate measures that would satisfy its disposal standard.
FACTA, which was enacted Dec. 4, 2003, amends the FCRA and directs the FTC, the Federal Reserve Board, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the Office of Thrift Supervision, the National Credit Union Administration and the Securities and Exchange Commission to coordinate with one another to adopt comparable and consistent rules regarding the disposal of sensitive consumer report information.
The purpose of these rules is to reduce the risk of identity theft and other consumer harm from improper disposal of a consumer report or any record derived from one. The FTC’s Disposal Rule applies to any person the FTC has jurisdiction over that, for a business purpose, maintains or otherwise possesses such consumer report information.
The FTC received more than 50 comments from industry trade organizations, businesses, consumer advocacy groups, members of Congress and consumers.
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