NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SUBJECT:
The collection, use, and distribution of personal data by businesses and data brokers and the implications for consumers' privacy.

PURPOSE:
To review company privacy policies and data collection efforts and state and federal law relating to the distribution and use of personal consumer data by businesses, digital data brokers, and the state, including assessing the Department of State's budgeting allocations to protect consumer privacy.

New York City
250 Broadway
Friday
November 22, 2013
10 a.m.
Assembly Hearing Room
250 Broadway, Room 1923, 19th Floor

Millions of Americans have their personal data collected, often unwittingly, on a daily basis. A consumer's online profile, browsing and transaction history, income, demographics, and other personal information are combined to create a complex profile of the individual. Sometimes this information is collected and stored by data brokers to sell to companies that then use it to market products and services to consumers. Other times, companies use their own collection efforts, including customer loyalty cards. Consumers are often unaware of what personal information companies collect and have few, if any, ways to find out. This hearing solicits testimony on companies' policies and practices and will examine state and federal law on collecting, storing, distributing, and/or selling consumer information. The Committee seeks to assess the Department of State's budgetary allocations to enforce existing consumer privacy protections. The hearing will explore what resources are or can be made available to consumers to obtain access to their own personal information used by companies or data brokers, and to control the use of their information.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to five (5) minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

JEFFREY DINOWITZ
Member of Assembly
Chair
Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection



PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on the collection, use, and distribution of personal data by businesses and data brokers and the implications for consumers' privacy are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, email, or fax it to:

Matt Aumand
Committee Assistant
Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs
Room 513 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
Email: aumandm@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4355
Fax: (518) 455-7250
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I plan to attend the following public hearing on the collection, use, and distribution of personal data by businesses and data brokers and the implications for consumers' privacy to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection on November 22, 2013.
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I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to 5 minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.
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I will address my remarks to the following subjects:




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I do not plan to attend the above hearing.
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