 |
| Wilson Works to Prevent Sale of Private Phone Records |
March 08, 2006 |
| |
Wilson-Backed Bill Passed by House Energy and Commerce Committee
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Heather Wilson today welcomed passage of the Prevention of Fraudulent Access to Phone Records Act in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on which she serves.
“We’re working to give the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission the tools they need to curb this deceptive practice,” Wilson said. “We need new rules and tougher civil penalties. Already, we’re seeing this activity taper off, just based on the knowledge that this legislation is being developed.”
The primary method of obtaining these records is through a practice known as “pretexing,” in which a data broker pretends to be the phone account holder to obtain someone else’s records. With a few pieces of personal information, which many times can also be fraudulently obtained over the internet, the “pretexter” can call a phone company and persuade the customer representative to release the phone records. This bill would allow the FTC to impose strict civil penalties for this practice.
“There is no reason a stalker, criminal or abusive spouse should have easy access to someone else’s phone records with the click of a mouse or for $100,” said Wilson.
The bipartisan bill will now move forward for consideration by the full House of Representatives. Wilson, who serves on the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, will be a cosponsor of the Committee legislation.
The legislation is a response to an ongoing investigation within the Committee to put an end to the practice of fraudulently acquiring personal phone records. In February, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held hearings on this issue and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations continues to investigate this practice on behalf of the full Energy and Commerce Committee.
The Prevention of Fraudulent Access to Phone Records Act could be voted on by the full House later this spring.
- END - |
|
|
|