SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
The Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. was invited to testify before the U.S. Federal Trade Commission regarding data collection and surveillance, and data security regulation.
The FTC is developing a new set of data limits and responsibility regulations to cover all user data – consensual or not.
Our Dr. McGuinness, Chairman of SCARS was able to deliver our statements with a follow-up set of written recommendations to follow.
Here is the text of his verbal testimony to the United States Federal Trade Commission today on their proposed rule-making on data collection and security. Unfortunately, all presenters had very limited time for verbal presentations. Our written testimony is separate and will be presented in a separate post.
These are the key points we wanted to get across tot he FTC for them to consider in their new regulation.
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I am Dr. Tim McGuinness, Chairman of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. a nonprofit supporting and representing over 50 million online abuse and crime victims, and I am a former co-founder of TigerDirect.com a multi-billion dollar online retailer, with 41 years of personal experience on the Internet
We encourage the COMMISSION to use the lessons of HIPPA and GLBA for how to control privacy and limit data sharing & impose security for a rule-making framework and may even be umbrellaed under these statutes
Do not forget that almost all platforms and apps are also PRODUCTS and may also be regulated by consumer product safety statutes.
♦ Specifically, we recommend:
- Unlimited collection of user data has led to vast criminal activity that has harmed almost all consumers worldwide – current Internet data security has failed
- Complete ban on the collection of PII and user data (including photos) without explicit consent separate from terms and conditions – which includes a general ban on excessive noncontextual data collection and tracking
- A requirement to limit data collection to NO MORE than is necessary for the management and notifications for consumer service accounts including data minimization
- Establishment of HIPPA-style best practices for universal data security
- Define the minimum business size for the affected rule-making, so that this is not impossible for small businesses to comply with
- Define the scope of platforms that must comply, including websites, apps, databases, browsers, and platforms
- Criminal penalties for failure to protect data and unauthorized sharing or disclosure similar to 21cfr11
- A consumer right of full access and revocation of data use & collection authorization – a right to delete
- Ban states from sharing information or data under obsolete sunshine statutes without consent
- A DO NOT COLLECT DATA national registry
- A national directory of data collected by personal name or identity for consumers to know who has their data
- Mandatory notifications of data breach or suspected data breach to consumers affected and disclosure to the FTC, with a mandatory financial fine to compensate consumers for actions needed to mitigate damages
- A private cause of action under the FTCs rulemaking
- A goal that consumers have a right to a sharing in revenue for their data
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If you have other suggestions you would like us to consider in our formal written submission, please tell us in a comment.
We welcome the opportunity to represent you all in this important new regulation development.
-/ 30 /-
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Please share your thoughts in a comment below!
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Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- Enroll in FREE SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
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