FTC Calls For Data Breach Law To ‘Clarify’ Its Authority

Ben Kochman reports:

The Federal Trade Commission has called on Congress to “clarify” its authority to regulate data breaches, while responding to the White House’s request for advice on how the administration should handle consumer privacy.

In comments posted last week to the U.S. Department of Commerce‘s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the FTC said it “continues its longstanding call” for federal legislation that “clarifies the FTC’s authority and the rules relating to data security and breach notification.”

The agency added that it “strongly supports” efforts to enact a national privacy law that would regulate how companies manage consumer data and communicate with users, so long as it does not hamper innovation.

So if privacy and innovation clash, innovation wins? Does the FTC represent the public/consumer or businesses?

Read more on Law360.com.