PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 11, 2011
Data Accountability and Trust Act of 2011 - Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to promulgate regulations requiring each person engaged in interstate commerce that owns or possesses electronic data containing personal information to establish security policies and procedures.
Authorizes the FTC to require a standard method or methods for destroying obsolete nonelectronic data.
Requires information brokers to submit their security policies to the FTC in conjunction with a security breach notification or on FTC request. Requires the FTC to conduct or require an audit of security practices when information brokers are required to provide notification of such a breach. Authorizes additional audits after a breach.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Requires information brokers to: (1) establish procedures to verify the accuracy of information that identifies individuals, (2) provide to individuals whose personal information it maintains a means to review it, (3) place notice on the Internet instructing individuals how to request access to such information, and (4) correct inaccurate information.
Directs the FTC to require information brokers to establish measures which facilitate the auditing or retracing of access to, or transmissions of, electronic data containing personal information.
Prohibits information brokers from obtaining or disclosing personal information by false pretenses (pretexting).
Prescribes procedures for notification to the FTC and affected individuals of information security breaches. Sets forth special notification requirements for breaches: (1) by contractors who maintain or process electronic data containing personal information, (2) involving telecommunications and computer services, and (3) of health information.
Terminates this Act effective September 30, 2016.
People & committees
Rep. Stearns, Cliff [R-FL-6] · R–FL
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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