Thank you for contacting me regarding the Equifax data breach. I appreciate you taking the time to write. It is an honor to serve you in the United States Senate and I hope you will continue to write with your thoughts and ideas on moving our country forward.
According to public statements, on July 29, 2017, Equifax Inc. discovered a data breach that ultimately exposed nearly 143 million Americans’ sensitive personal information. Compromised information includes Social Security numbers, dates of birth, home addresses, and in some cases, credit card and driver’s license numbers. On September 14, 2017, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced an investigation into the Equifax data breach. In addition, both the Senate Banking Committee and Senate Commerce Committee have announced hearings to review the circumstances surrounding the cybersecurity incident.
It is vital that Americans be able to trust companies tasked with protecting personal, sensitive information. I take the right to privacy seriously and will continue to work to defend against cybercriminals that threaten American security and consumer well-being. It is my hope that through the course of the FTC investigation and Congressional hearings there is a productive discussion on consumer protection and reporting best-practices.
Again, thank you for contacting me, and do not hesitate to do so again when an issue is important to you.
Response from Senator Gardner
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Equifax data breach. I appreciate you taking the time to write. It is an honor to serve you in the United States Senate and I hope you will continue to write with your thoughts and ideas on moving our country forward.
According to public statements, on July 29, 2017, Equifax Inc. discovered a data breach that ultimately exposed nearly 143 million Americans’ sensitive personal information. Compromised information includes Social Security numbers, dates of birth, home addresses, and in some cases, credit card and driver’s license numbers. On September 14, 2017, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced an investigation into the Equifax data breach. In addition, both the Senate Banking Committee and Senate Commerce Committee have announced hearings to review the circumstances surrounding the cybersecurity incident.
It is vital that Americans be able to trust companies tasked with protecting personal, sensitive information. I take the right to privacy seriously and will continue to work to defend against cybercriminals that threaten American security and consumer well-being. It is my hope that through the course of the FTC investigation and Congressional hearings there is a productive discussion on consumer protection and reporting best-practices.
Again, thank you for contacting me, and do not hesitate to do so again when an issue is important to you.
Sincerely,
Cory Gardner
United States Senator