WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema spoke at a Senate Banking Committee hearing on data privacy and underscored the need to improve privacy protections for Arizonans. Sinema questioned witnesses on how Arizonans can have increased ownership and oversight of their data.
“Arizonans are practical people. We want the modern conveniences that technology brings, but we also value our privacy. I’m committed to making sure Arizonans know how our data are being used so that we can make informed decisions,” said Sinema, a member of the Senate Banking Committee.
In the hearing, Sinema highlighted how the Federal Trade Commission found that one in five consumers had an error on at least one of their three credit reports and how those errors can seriously hurt Arizonans’ credit scores. Sinema noted that Arizonans can appeal inaccuracies in their credit reports under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Sinema then highlighted how businesses are increasingly using consumer reports to market specific products for consumers and even determine eligibility for services and private financing. Consumer reports are compilations of public, private, and government data assembled and sold by data brokers to businesses and others. Sinema heard from witnesses about the lack of transparency and how Arizonans do not have the same right to appeal inaccuracies in consumer reports that they do in credit reports. Sinema concluded by urging the Committee to strengthen privacy protections and ensure all Arizonans have the right to correct inaccuracies that could make the difference in buying a home, qualifying for a credit card, or financing an education.
