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In a Highly Unusual Move, FTC Confirms It Is Investigating Equifax (reuters.com)

Posted by msmash on from the no-mercy dept.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Thursday confirmed it is investigating Equifax's handling of a data breach affecting 143m Americans. "The FTC typically does not comment on ongoing investigations. However, in light of the intense public interest and the potential impact of this matter, I can confirm that FTC staff is investigating the Equifax data breach," said Peter Kaplan, the commission's acting director of public affairs. Washington Post reporter tweeted: "To put a finer point on it, this is really, really unusual -- the FTC hardly ever says anything about ongoing probes."

2 of 117 comments (clear)

  1. I'm up for a corporate death penalty by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I support the death penalty. So much, in fact, that I want to see Equifax executed - in this case, by having its corporate charter revoked. They're not "too big to fail". They're not providing a valuable product to our economy. They're not America's Last Great Hope at manufacturing or anything like that. They're a rent-seeking parasite on the economy who obviously can never again be trusty with the weaponizable data they collect on everyone who lives here. Cut off its head - sacrifice it on the altar of accountability and justice - and call it done.

    And as we'd lock up a street-level criminal until their trial, Equifax should be imprisoned by having its bank accounts and stock trades frozen immediately. Sure, that means it can't pay its CEO. Yes, it means its employees will break up with it in favor of more upstanding members of society. Yeah, it means it won't be able to pay rent and will probably get evicted. If all that's good enough for Joe Accused Weed Dealer, it's good enough for Equifax Accused Stalker.

    --
    Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  2. Good! by plague911 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Equifax needs to face SEVERE punishment for negligence. Their incompetence impacts everything from personal finance, to national security. Just think what those nasty Russian's will do with the knowledge of exactly which pesky counter intelligence officer is having credit issues.