Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District
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Legislative Issues
Protecting Your Privacy
[ Frequency Asked Questions on Banking Privacy ]
Personal privacy is under attack more today than at any time in U.S. history. The ability for corporations and government to collect detailed personal information about individuals and store that information in sortable and searchable databases is a side effect of recent technological advances. It is vitally important that personal privacy is protected and control over personal information is left up to the individual.
| Help for veterans at risk for identity theft |
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[ 23 May 2006 ] Up to 26.5 million veterans nationwide were placed at risk of identity theft after a laptop computer was stolen that contained electronic files with their names, birthdates and Social Security numbers from the home of a Department of Veterans Affairs employee on May 3. |
| Inslee opposes NSA phone-record database |
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[ 11 May 2006 ] U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee called for hearings to investigate reports that the National Security Agency (NSA) has compiled a database of Americans’ calling habits with help from several telephone companies that didn’t obtain consent from consumers or warrants from law-enforcement officials. |
| Lawmakers pressure IRS to protect taxpayer privacy |
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[ 4 April 2006 ] Members of Congress made clear they don’t favor an Internal Revenue Service plan that would allow the sale or distribution of sensitive financial and personal information on tax filings to marketers and data-collection companies. |
| Inslee pans IRS plan to sell taxpayer data |
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[ 23 March 2006 ] U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee blasted the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for contributing to the erosion of consumer privacy. In a letter to the federal agency, he criticized a proposed rule change that would allow sensitive information provided on tax filings – and even entire returns – to be sold to marketers and data-collection companies. |
| Inslee bill spurs phone privacy legislation in House commerce panel |
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[ 8 March 2006 ] The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation that would make it illegal for online companies to sell phone records they obtained by posing as account holders. The action was prompted by panel members U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee and Marsha Blackburn, who authored in January the first House bill aimed at keeping telephone records private. |
| Phone records legislation advances quickly in House |
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[ 1 February 2006 ] A key House panel held a hearing on the threat posed to American consumers by online companies that sell phone records without the consent of account holders. Among measures discussed aimed at protecting such information included a bill penned by committee members U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee and Marsha Blackburn. |
| Lawmakers unveil legislation to keep phone records private |
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[ 18 January 2006 ] Lawmakers unveiled legislation aimed at preventing imposters from accessing the phone records of unsuspecting consumers. Their announcement came in response to reports that online companies sell illegally obtained cell phone records for as little as $100. A bill sponsored by U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee and Marsha Blackburn would increase criminal penalties for people who pose as account holders to access telephone and cell phone records. |
| Inslee Praises Court Decision on E-Mail Privacy |
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[ 11 August 2005 ] U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee said that a decision today by the full 1st District U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is a positive sign for restoring the privacy of consumers’ E-mail communications. In today’s decision, the full court revived a case that contends that an internet service provider’s interception of a customer’s E-mail is a violation of federal wiretap laws. |
| E-Mail Privacy Act of 2005 |
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[ 29 July 2005 ] U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Chris Cannon (R-UT) introduced the E-Mail Privacy Act of 2005 (H.R. 3503) to restore the privacy of consumers’ E-mail communications, and ensure that any real-time interception of these communications abides by the same privacy standards applied to telephone conversations. |
| Anti-Spyware Legislation Passes House |
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[ 23 May 2005 ] U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee said today that the House passage of two anti-spyware bills is a victory for consumers and technological innovators. The legislation included Inslee’s suggestions for a “just-in-time” notice and consent, and a behavior-based approach to fighting the problem of spyware. |
| Identity Theft Tips and Advice |
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[ 20 April 2005 ] In 2004, over 5650 residents of Washington State became victims of identity theft. To help address this growing problem, I recently hosted a Forum on Identity Theft in Shoreline, WA. This page is full of tips and advice from our panelists. |
| Privacy Concerns re: Intelligence Reform Bill |
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[ 8 October 2004 ] Inslee voted against the intelligence reform bill (H.R. 10) and instead voted in favor of a much more comprehensive proposal (the Menendez Amendment) that implements many of the 9-11 Commission’s recommendations. H.R. 10 does not follow the 9-11 Commission recommendation to create a civil liberties board to ensure the protection of Americans civil liberties when the government considers laws and regulations to protect the nation against terrorism. In contrast, H.R. 10 actually raises privacy concerns by creating a new national database of driver’s licenses and birth certificates, and expands the authority of the Justice Department by relaxing grand jury secrecy requirements and increasing its ability to conduct secret surveillance. |
| Spyware Legislation Passes House |
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[ 5 October 2004 ] Today, U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Christopher Shays (R-CT) commended the House of Representatives on passing legislation to combat the problem of spyware. Spyware can impair consumers’ experience, undermine privacy and threaten security when deceptive software is installed on their systems without their knowledge or consent. The legislation, H.R. 2929, passed the House by a vote of 399 to one. |
| Financial Privacy in the Patriot Act |
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[ 29 September 2004 ] Inslee proposed an amendment that would have restored a system of checks and balances for all federal agencies wishing to obtain our credit reports that was taken away by the Patriot Act. The amendment sought to: (1) reinstate the requirement that high-ranking supervisory officials must approve requests for credit reports; (2) extend Congressional oversight to all agencies requesting credit reports, and (3) require agencies obtaining credit reports to pay reasonable costs to the Credit Bureaus for putting together and supplying credit reports. |
| E-mail Privacy Act of 2004 |
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[ 22 July 2004 ] U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and William Delahunt (D-MA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to restore the privacy of consumers’ E-mail communications, and ensure that any interception of these communications abides by the same privacy standards applied to telephone conversations. Inslee introduced the E-mail Privacy Act of 2004 (H.R. 4956) in response to a recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, which ruled that the federal wiretap law does not apply to interception of E-mail in real-time transmission. |
| Spyware Legislation |
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[ 29 April 2004 ] U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) announced today the introduction of new legislation to address the growing problem of spyware. Spyware is software that is deceptively installed on a user’s computer to collect personal information, modify computer settings, or display unwanted advertising. |
| Blocking Calls from Telemarketers |
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[ 27 June 2003 ] As your Representative in Congress, I wanted to alert you to the new "do-not-call" registry that allows you to prevent unwanted telemarketers from calling your home or cellular phone. |
| Banking Privacy Amendment |
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[ 28 March 2001 ] Inslee introduced two amendments designed to plug loopholes in our banking privacy law. The amendments required financial institutions to obtain a consumer's permission before sharing that consumer's financial records with telemarketers. |
| Live Privacy Chat Online |
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[ 28 September 2000 ] Washingtonpost.com hosted a live chat about computer privacy issues, featuring Inslee as their guest. |