Data Accountability and Trust Act (DATA)

The Data Accountability and Trust Act (DATA) was approved by the US House Energy and Commerce Committee last week and could soon be cleared by the House of Representatives

The bill requires consumers to be told if their privacy has been violated because of a breach.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), ID theft cost American consumers $5 billion (US$6 billion) and businesses $48 billion (US$58 billion) last year.

The bill would allow the FTC to enforce standards on keeping data, and make companies appoint a head of security who would produce best practice and audits up to five years after an event.