Safeguarding Personal Information: National Standards for Data Privacy

In the 21st century, consumer information provides businesses with the ability to make informed decisions, develop products in response to customer feedback, and deliver goods and services to consumers. More generally, various types of information facilitate consumers' ability to make financial decisions, enable medical professionals to treat symptoms and provide critical health care, and enable educational institutions to facilitate a child's learning. In each of these cases involving specific information about individuals, sector-specific laws protect and limit the purposes for which such information can be collected, used, or shared. This book examines the gaps in the protection of consumers' personal information, how businesses navigate compliance with sectoral laws, and why a comprehensive privacy and data security law must be enacted.