Contractors millions to snoop through our financial data

[VMI77]

http://dailycaller.com/2013/06/27/obama ... ncial-data

A secretive data collection program run by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau allows private contractors access to millions of Americans’ personal financial information, according to a government accountability group.

The information may also be shared with other federal agencies.

Documents obtained by Washington-based Judicial Watch through the Freedom of Information Act illustrate the cost and scope of the program, which business groups and some Republican lawmakers have assailed as invasive and potentially illegal.

The Daily Caller News Foundation previously reported how the CFPB compelled banks to comply with the program by making successful passage of routine inspections conditional on supplying massive amounts of their customers’ financial information. The new documents shed light on what happens to that data once banks have turned it over.

[gthaustex]

http://dailycaller.com/2013/06/27/obama ... ncial-data

A secretive data collection program run by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau allows private contractors access to millions of Americans’ personal financial information, according to a government accountability group.

The information may also be shared with other federal agencies.

Documents obtained by Washington-based Judicial Watch through the Freedom of Information Act illustrate the cost and scope of the program, which business groups and some Republican lawmakers have assailed as invasive and potentially illegal.

The Daily Caller News Foundation previously reported how the CFPB compelled banks to comply with the program by making successful passage of routine inspections conditional on supplying massive amounts of their customers’ financial information. The new documents shed light on what happens to that data once banks have turned it over.

Essentially blackmail? Chicago politics as usual???? Supply this info to us and we will make things easy for you....we are from the government, you can trust us.

[cb1000rider]

I'm sorry, as someone that works in tech.. This smacks of sensationalism until they post some real details.

Most large companies that deal with end consumers have consumer financial and/or personal data. Many of these companies employ contractors either directly or indirectly.
In *some* circumstances, such has healthcare, we've got legislation requiring that tech companies store that data in a means that prevents easy snooping. These circumstances are the exception, not the rule.

What I'm saying is that lots of people every where in technology have access to a ton of consumer data... Contractor or non-contractor, it makes no difference to me.

Stuff that banks might have: account numbers, balance data, maybe credit scores. They don't give that stuff away, but by no means is it top secret.

Maybe it's just that I'm aware of how many people have access to this data.. Developers, DBAs, testers, network administrators... It's hardly earth shattering. Maybe what's earth shattering is the fact that most people don't know?

What shocks me is the number of contractors that have access to truly classified data related to national security. I think the number I heard was something like 1000 people have access to "Top Secret" level documentation either directly or indirectly..

[VMI77]

I'm sorry, as someone that works in tech.. This smacks of sensationalism until they post some real details.

Most large companies that deal with end consumers have consumer financial and/or personal data. Many of these companies employ contractors either directly or indirectly.
In *some* circumstances, such has healthcare, we've got legislation requiring that tech companies store that data in a means that prevents easy snooping. These circumstances are the exception, not the rule.

What I'm saying is that lots of people every where in technology have access to a ton of consumer data... Contractor or non-contractor, it makes no difference to me.

Stuff that banks might have: account numbers, balance data, maybe credit scores. I don't give that stuff away, but by no means is it top secret.

Maybe it's just that I'm aware of how many people have access to this data.. Developers, DBAs, testers, network administrators... It's hardly earth shattering. Maybe what's earth shattering is the fact that most people don't know?

What shocks me is the number of contractors that have access to truly classified data related to national security. I think the number I heard was something like 1000 people have access to "Top Secret" level documentation either directly or indirectly..

Yeah, "legislation" will fix it. The government would never violate the "law."

[cb1000rider]

I don't think more legislation is the answer. That wasn't what I was trying to imply. I'm just saying that the amount of sensitive data available to "contractors" isn't newsworthy...