Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jun 15, 2011
Data Security and Breach Notification Act of 2011 - Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to promulgate regulations requiring each covered entity (proprietorships, partnerships, estates, trusts, cooperatives, and nonprofit and for-profit corporations) that owns or possesses data containing personal information to implement policies and procedures regarding information security practices for the treatment and protection of such information.
Sets forth additional requirements for information brokers, including requiring brokers to: (1) submit their security policies to the FTC with a notification of a security breach or upon FTC request; (2) establish procedures to assure the accuracy of the information they collect, assemble, or maintain that is personal information or that identifies an individual; (3) provide individuals access to their personal information for review; and (4) correct inaccurate information. Authorizes the FTC to conduct information security practices audits of brokers who have had a security breach or require such brokers to conduct independent audits.
Directs the FTC to require information brokers to establish measures that facilitate the auditing or retracing of access to, or transmissions of, any data containing personal information.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Read full official summaryShow less
Makes it unlawful for information brokers to obtain or disclose personal information by false pretenses (pretexting).
Establishes procedures in the event of an information security breach. Requires a covered entity that discovers a breach to notify the FTC and affected individuals. Sets forth requirements concerning such notification, including the method of notification requirements and timeliness requirements. Allows an exemption from notification requirements if such entity determines that there is no reasonable risk of identity theft, fraud, or other unlawful conduct. Establishes a presumption that there is no such risk for encrypted data.
Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Explore the bill from different angles
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Neutral evidence review
Objective
Analyze S.1207 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact
Progressive lens
Examine S.1207 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope
Conservative lens
Examine S.1207 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power
Liberty lens
Examine S.1207 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.