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Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state is adding more safeguards to protect sensitive, personal information such as Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers and bank and credit card accounts.
The Governor said the measures are part of a new identity theft law that takes effect October 1.
The legislation levies steep civil fines of up to $500,000 for businesses or individuals who have been entrusted with confidential information of others but fail to safeguard it.
“Identity theft is a frightening, insidious crime that has become all too common and, in some cases, all too easy to commit,” Governor Rell said. “With this new law we are requiring companies and others who keep this sensitive information to create a policy that protects confidentiality, prohibits public disclosure and limits access to that data.”
The law also:
· Prohibits printing Social Security numbers on cards used to gain access to services;
· Bans companies from requiring that individuals use their Social Security numbers to gain access to an Internet site;
· Mandates the data be destroyed or made unreadable before it is disposed;
· Requires that a company’s privacy policy be publicly displayed or published.
“In our fast-paced world, it takes only moments for someone to steal an identity and cause significant, long-lasting damage to a credit record,” Governor Rell said. “This is especially true for folks like our senior citizens, many of whom are accustomed to giving their Social Security number as part of their personal identification. When this information falls into the wrong hands, it can take victims years and thousands of dollars to put their lives back together.”
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