Tag: Legislation

Credit bureaus giving free weekly credit reports now through April 2021

Post author By savepoin
Post date April 25, 2020

The three major U.S. credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – will now allow Americans to receive free weekly credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com for a year starting April 20th 2020. These credit reports were previously only free once a year under federal law.

The Federal Reserve Board announced on April 24, 2020 an interim final rule to amend Regulation D for bank transfers. Previously, only 6 or fewer bank savings accounts transfers per month were allowed, but this is no longer the case.

Tags Free, Legislation

Legislation

TRACED Act sets fines for robocallers

Post author By savepoin
Post date February 8, 2020

The Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (TRACED Act) was signed into law on December 30, 2019. This new U.S. law will set fines on spam robocallers and requires phone companies to adapt call authentication technologies to deter robocalls. The FTC and FCC government agencies also have some instructions to reduce the number of received robocalls.

Tags Legislation

Legislation

File income taxes for free using the IRS Free File Program

Post author By savepoin
Post date February 8, 2020

U.S. taxpayers have the option to file their income taxes for free using the Free File Program from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is $69,000 or less (2019 tax year requirement). The tax preparer must start the filing process at www.irs.gov/freefile instead of a commercial tax software website in order to avoid being prompted for payment.

The Free File program is part of an agreement between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, a coalition of tax software companies.

Tags Free, Legislation

Legislation

REAL ID compliant identification required to fly in US on October 1st 2020

Post author By savepoin
Post date October 15, 2019

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will require a REAL ID-compliant form of identification for all airline passengers who fly in the United States starting on October 1, 2020. More information from the TSA about REAL ID is available here.

Tags Legislation

Data Breaches Legislation Privacy of Data

Stanford Law School world map of Internet laws

Post author By savepoin
Post date April 25, 2019

Stanford Law School’s Center for Internet and Society (CIS) has an interactive map that lists Internet legal developments around the world. More information about this map can be found at the CIS map’s FAQ page.

Tags Data Breaches, Legislation, Privacy

Legislation Security

California now has the first IoT security law in the U.S.

Post author By savepoin
Post date December 1, 2018

California now has the first IoT (Internet of Things) security law in the U.S., as reported by CNET.com. California Senate Bill No. 327 (SB-327) was signed into law on September 28, 2018, and this law will become effective on January 1, 2020. The law requires IoT device makers to use appropriate security measures by design, and to protect device data from unauthorized access.

These new requirements are in addition to what is required by the new California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA).

Tags Legislation, Security

Legislation Security

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2018

Post author By savepoin
Post date November 27, 2018

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Act of 2018 was signed into law as of November 16, 2018. This legislation reorganizes the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a standalone federal agency in charge of cyber and physical infrastructure security.

More information is available at the Department of Homeland Security’s CISA website.

Tags Legislation, Security

Legislation Privacy of Data Smartphones

New DMCA government rules allow third party repairs of some technology products

Post author By savepoin
Post date October 27, 2018

The U.S. Copyright Office issued a new ruling effective October 28th 2018 that allows exceptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (DMCA). Section 1201 of the DMCA was used by some companies to restrict consumer and third party use of products containing software, including smartphones, computers, motor vehicles, and home appliances. This ruling allows greater legal protection for consumers and third party companies to repair and diagnose rightfully owned technology products.

Answers to some frequently asked questions on this ruling can be found at www.copyright.gov/1201/2018/faqs.html. General information on U.S. copyright laws is available at www.copyright.gov/help/faq/index.html.

Digital rights groups such as the Repair Association and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have issued their own responses regarding this ruling.

Tags Legislation, Privacy, Smartphones

Legislation Privacy of Data Security

New federal law allows you to freeze your credit reports for free

Post author By savepoin
Post date September 22, 2018

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that Americans nationwide can now freeze their credit reports for free. This was made possible because of a new federal law made effective on September 21st 2018.

More information about credit freezes is at www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0497-credit-freeze-faqs. The FTC also requires that credit reporting agencies give consumers a free credit report once a year at www.annualcreditreport.com