Send Comments to Identity Theft Task Force by January 19th

The President's Identity Theft Task Force seeks public input for a Strategic Plan to Combat Identity Theft.  The Identity Theft Task Force was created by President Bush by Executive Order on May 10, 2006, and has been charged with delivering a strategic plan by February  9, 2007.  Task Force Co-Chairmen are Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras. 

On Sept. 19, 2006, the Identity Theft Task Force published Interim Recommendations - www.ftc.gov/opa/2006/09/idtheft.htm  The Identity Theft Task Force now seeks public comments until January 19, 2007.  In preparing comments, it is important to review the Interim Recommendations and the request for comments.  Four objectives are highlighted: 

1. Preventing sensitive consumer data from falling into the hands of identity thieves -- by encouraging  better data security practices and consumer education;
2. Making it more difficult to steal identities -- even if consumer information does fall into the wrong hands;
3. Assisting victims of identity theft; and
4. Deterring identity theft through aggressive prosecution and punishment.

My review of the Interim Recommendations and the Request for Comments indicates that the Task Force is not yet actively considering a federal mandate to the credit reporting agencies to allow consumers to place a freeze on their credit reports proactively, in the absence of suspected identity theft.  California was a pioneer in this requirement.  In my opinion, it would be appropriate for the Task Force to study the California experience and consider uniform federal measures allowing consumers to place a "lock" on their credit reports and on the issuance of new credit without special authorization.

Link to Request for Comments:  http://www.ftc.gov/speeches/majoras/061221PublicNoticeFinal.pdf