We trust the industry will bring the same spirit of cooperation to resolving these remaining issues. According to the report, a great deal of information about consumers is available through these individual reference services. This often sensitive personal identifying information comes from a variety of public and non-public sources. Most look-up services operate through their own proprietary networks. Advances in computer technology have allowed consumers' personal identifying information to be aggregated and accessed more easily and cheaply than ever before, often without their knowledge or consent.
Surveys show that consumers are increasingly concerned about the use of their personal information.
Today, through the use of computers and the Internet, vast amounts of personal information about consumers can be accessed as a result of a simple search. I appreciate the work of the FTC and the industry on this important issue. I am particularly pleased with the prospect for a framework of industry self-regulation. While the efforts at self-regulation by the industry could serve as a model to duplicate elsewhere, we must not give up on our efforts to ensure the standards are adequate to protect against identity theft and other threats to consumer privacy. It is clear that continued oversight is warranted and I will be requesting that the Commerce Committee hold hearings on this issue in the coming year.