Fergie's Tech Blog

Telcos May Face New Anti-Pretexting Regulations

Anne Broache writes on C|Net News:

Under a new bill proposed in Congress, telephone companies would be required to alert customers if their private records are improperly accessed.

The Consumer Telephone Records Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), would also reiterate that it's unlawful for anyone to obtain confidential information about others through fraudulent means, popularly known as "pretexting."

It's already a crime, punishable by prison time, to buy, sell or obtain personal phone records under a bill signed into law last month by President Bush. An Inslee aide said her boss' bill is also necessary because it would give the Federal Trade Commission explicit authority to investigate and prosecute such incidents.

posted by Fergie @ 2/07/2007 06:54:00 PM