BALTIMORE, May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Council of
Investigation and Security Services (NCISS), the nation's largest
association for investigation and security services companies, is working with
Congress to prevent any unintended damage to the court system and
commerce caused by overly broad regulatory language meant to protect personal
identification information.
"We support the protection of personal identification
information and welcome every opportunity to work with Congressional
leaders to address this important issue," said Brian McGuinness, NCISS president and
president of McGuinness & Associates, Inc., of Miami.
NCISS and other private security organizations support these
measures to protect personal data:
* Data brokers should conduct thorough credentialing of
new accounts and those where a review indicates that a new check is
in order.
* Congress should ban Internet sales of personal
identification information to the general public.
* Penalties, such as fines and jail sentences, for the
misuse of personal information should be increased.
* Data providers should be required by federal law to
notify consumers when their information has been accessed illegally.
* Congress should prohibit the use of Social Security
Numbers on identification documents such as healthcare insurance
cards, drivers' licenses and state permits.
* Investigators and other licensed professionals who
can demonstrate a need for information and have submitted to a
background investigation should have continued access to personal
data.
Recent security breaches at data brokers and financial
institutions have led to calls for immediate regulatory and
legislative action; private security
and investigators are fearful that in the current atmosphere public
officials may be pressured to create overly broad legislation.
Key contributions of private security and investigators in
support of federal and state judiciary systems, law enforcement,
corporations and private
citizens already are in jeopardy. Unjustified data-broker
restrictions now in place make it nearly impossible for security
professionals to continue to
* Locate witnesses
* Prevent and investigate fraud, theft and embezzlement
* Investigate identity theft and assist in credit
recovery
* Locate missing persons, heirs and "deadbeat parents"
* Implement access control and perimeter security
measures
* Protect consumers against fraud and identity theft
* Locate debtors and pension beneficiaries
The National Council of Investigation and Security Services
(NCISS) is the nation's largest association for investigation and
security services
companies, with more than 1100 member firms representing nearly
15,000 investigators and security services professionals. NCISS encourages the
exchange of information and best practices to improve performance
and raise ethical standards. Founded in 1975, NCISS works
closely with state
investigation associations and other security organizations to
advocate and sustain the activities of investigators and security
service professionals.
For more information, please visit
http://www.nciss.org.
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