US Watchdog Takes Aim at Surveillance Industry and Data Brokers, Proposes New Regulations

The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is set to announce plans to regulate companies involved in tracking and selling personal data, as part of the Biden administration's efforts to address privacy concerns in the surveillance industry. The CFPB aims to prevent illegal collection and sharing of data by modern-day data brokers, particularly those targeting sensitive groups such as military personnel and individuals with dementia. The proposal would expand the coverage of the Fair Credit Reporting Act to include data derived from payment histories, personal income, and criminal records. Of particular concern is the disclosure of personal data, including names and addresses, by credit bureaus, which can potentially harm individuals seeking to avoid contact, such as domestic violence victims.