ChoicePoint

Over this past President's Day weekend, the story probably-- and maybe rightly so-- making the most media noise was the identity thefts at ChoicePoint.

A USATODAY article last Friday reported the attorney generals of 18 states, including Ohio, "urging" ChoicePoint to notify those affected by the break-in. A U.S. Newswire article focused on the "fraud hightlighting the need for stronger ID theft safeguards, 11 states considering security freeze rights for consumers, and two others requiring companies to notify customers about security breaches." Senate Bill 115, introduced Jan. 24th., would require Federal agencies, and those engaged in interstate commerce in possession of electronic data containing personal information, disclose any unauthorized acquisitions of such information."

This morning, MSNBC reported that the incident had, in fact, prompted a Senate investigation into the broader issue of data brokers in general, this having been brought about by a call from Senator Patrick Leahy, last Tuesday, for such hearings; and, for the first time now, others are seeking a GAO probe to widen to the potential for terror risks.

Also on Tuesday, Reuters/MSN Money reported that a California woman had filed an action against ChoicePoint in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking a class-action status, claiming that "at least 145,000 people have suffered damages of less than $75,000 each."