WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Acting Chair Rebecca K. Slaughter urging the FTC to protect domestic violence victims’ personal information online. The Senators specifically expressed concern about people-search sites, which collect personal data such as phone numbers, email addresses, and other public information – potentially revealing location and contact information to perpetrators of domestic violence on their platforms, endangering victims. 

In light of increased reports of domestic violence during the pandemic, the Senators are calling on the FTC to provide opportunities for victims to remove their data from people-search sites. The Senators also requested information about what resources the FTC offers victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking, and how the agency plans to support and protect victims moving forward.

“As reports of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking have increased during the pandemic, the threat of the virus has made it even more difficult for victims to find safety and support. While some states have addressed confidentiality programs that allow victims to use a post office box as their legal address, we have serious concerns that third party data brokers play a role in revealing the protected address and providing access to personal information that can lead to continued abuse,” the Senators wrote.

They continued: “While we appreciate your efforts to highlight the critical need for increased consumer privacy and how open data and hacking can further victimization, we believe additional measures to protect personal data should be taken to ensure the privacy of victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking and to make it easier for them to remove their information from data broker sites.”

Klobuchar has been a leader in the fight to protect consumers’ private information, including victims of domestic violence. Last month, she and Murkowski reintroduced legislation to protect consumers’ private health data by strengthening privacy and security protections for data collected by health tracking devices and apps as well as DNA testing kits. 

In April, Klobuchar, Murkowski, and Bob Casey (D-PA) led a bipartisan group of 38 colleagues in sending a letter to Senate leadership requesting that any future legislation to address COVID-19 includes support for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. In December, she sent a letter to former Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar requesting information on steps the agency is taking to ensure wearable health devices safeguard health information in light of new health technology entering the market. 

Last Congress, Klobuchar joined Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Ed Markey (D-MA) in introducing the Consumer Online Privacy Rights Act, a comprehensive federal online privacy bill that would establish privacy rights, outlaw harmful and deceptive practices, and improve data security safeguards. Klobuchar also joined Senators Cantwell and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in introducing the Exposure Notification Privacy Act, which would make participation in commercial online exposure notification systems regarding coronavirus exposure voluntary and give consumers control of their personal data by limiting the type of data that can be collected and how it can be used.

As a former prosecutor, Klobuchar has been outspoken about the need to protect victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault. Last month, Klobuchar reintroduced legislation to protect immigrant victims of domestic violence, and in April, Klobuchar led a letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS) to ensure immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other serious crimes could continue to access programs during the coronavirus pandemic through which they obtain legal status independent of abusers and perpetrators.

Klobuchar also authored legislation to reform training for sexual assault investigations and protect dating partners from gun violence.

• The Abby Honold Act would promote the use of trauma-informed, evidence-based techniques by law enforcement when responding to sexual assault crimes.
• The Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act would help close what is commonly referred to as the ‘boyfriend loophole’ by preventing people who have abused dating partners from buying or owning firearms. The bill would also prevent convicted stalkers from possessing a gun.

The letter can be found below and HERE.

Dear Acting Chair Slaughter,

We write to express serious concerns regarding recent reports that data brokers are publicizing the location and contact information of victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking, which perpetrators can use to track their victims, and to request specific information about the steps the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is taking to help protect survivors. 

One in four women and one in nine men experience intimate partner violence  and often are forced to relocate to a relative’s house to find safety. Recent reports highlight that people-search sites, which collect personal data such as phone numbers, email addresses, and other public information, also often include the names and addresses of family members.  The availability of this data makes it difficult or impossible for victims to safely relocate with relatives.

As reports of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking have increased during the pandemic, the threat of the virus has made it even more difficult for victims to find safety and support.  While some states have addressed confidentiality programs that allow victims to use a post office box as their legal address, we have serious concerns that third party data brokers play a role in revealing the protected address and providing access to personal information that can lead to continued abuse. 

While we appreciate your efforts to highlight the critical need for increased consumer privacy and how open data and hacking can further victimization, we believe additional measures to protect personal data should be taken to ensure the privacy of victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking and to make it easier for them to remove their information from data broker sites. We respectfully request that you respond to the following questions:

• Does the FTC need additional resources to better protect domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking victims from data broker sites? If so, please describe these resource needs in detail. 
• How can we help the FTC coordinate with the Department of Justice, states and localities, and private stakeholders to prevent perpetrators of violence from gaining access to the personal information of victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking? 
• What resources does the FTC offer victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking to educate them about data sharing sites and how to protect their personal information? 
• Is the FTC planning to take additional measures to better protect victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking and help ensure they have the right to review and remove their information, and assist them should they become victim to a breach of information sharing? If so, please describe these measures. 
• Is the FTC planning to help ensure data broker companies are not collecting, buying, or selling lists of vulnerable populations, including victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking? 

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to working with you to address this critical issue.

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