Menendez, Sires, Fulop support legislation to protect consumers from data hackers

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and U.S. Rep. Albio Sires (D-8) were joined by Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop today as they announced the reintroduction of the Commercial Privacy Bill of Rights – designed to protect consumers from having their personal information hacked as a result of business purchases. 

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

Sires and Menendez first introduced this piece of legislation following the Dec. 2013 Target data breach (h/t The Washington Post).

“As Americans become more reliant on technology, we need to ensure that safeguards are in place to prevent the next cyber-attack and secure our private information,” Menendez said at a press conference in front of the Jersey City Home Depot in 12th Street.

“The stakes are too high and the risks too great to do nothing given the new threats we face. We need to give consumers the protections they deserve. Further delay only leaves us all more vulnerable to identity thieves, cyber-snoops and cyber-terrorists.”

Aside from Home Depot, other American companies that have faced massive data breaches of credit and debit card information include Staples, Michaels, Citibank and P.F. Chang’s, among many others.

“This legislation comes at a critical time when data breaches are happening more and more frequently,” Sires stated.

“It is important that Congress stay ahead of this issue in order to protect consumers here in New Jersey and around the country. This comprehensive, commonsense legislation will protect consumers’ data and privacy, and will pave the way for significant reforms in the cyber security sphere.”

“The number of cyber attacks and theft of personal data continues to increase, putting millions of American families at risk and threatening consumer confidence,” Fulop added while speaking at the event.

A full copy of the Commercial Privacy Bill of Rights Act can be read here.