It also would prohibit the transfer of personally identifiable financial information unless a person gave permission. Such permission could be given electronically, such as by checking a box on an Internet transmission. Companies that violated the law could be subject to a civil suit in federal court, and the officers of those companies also could be held responsible. A final feature of the bill would prohibit the sale of people's Social Security numbers. Sen. Nelson doesn't think so.
Privacy is likely to be one of the major issues facing government at all levels in the coming years.
The blossoming of the Information Age also means the dangers of misuse of information, particularly personally identifiable information. Sen. Nelson said he plans to be involved in all matters of privacy, but he's purposely tailoring his legislation to solve the narrow and immediate issue of financial and medical privacy. One problem Sen. Nelson faces is that he's not on any of the committees that would have jurisdiction over a privacy bill. But he's already begun talking to some of the key chairmen and ranking members and will talk to the others before the bill is filed. Two things Sen. Nelson does have going for him are passion and experience.