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DFL Initiatives To Safeguard
Your Personal Data

The following are 8 DFL legislative proposals to safeguard your personal data:

1. Make it a state crime to steal mail.

Mail theft is a federal crime, not a state crime. The legislation would write mail theft into Minnesota's statutes as a felony carrying a penalty of three years and/or a $5,000 fine.

2. Increase the law-enforcement authority of United State Postal Inspectors.

Gives USPS Inspectors arrest authority when they are working with law enforcement agents. This is the same authority already granted by statute to the FBI, DEA, ATF and other federal law-enforcement agents.

3. Restrict the use of Social Security numbers.

Limits the manner in which individuals, businesses and government agencies can use Social Security numbers. Prevents posting an individual's Social Security number publicly, printing it on a card needed to access goods or services, or using it as an access code for a website.

4. Keep credit card numbers personal and private.

Prohibits businesses from printing more than the last five digits of credit card numbers on most receipts.

5. Increase penalties for malfeasance by persons whose profession affords them access to personal information.

Punishment will be increased for people in a position of fiduciary trust and those with access to other personal information - bank employees, stockbrokers, Department of Motor Vehicles workers, etc - who abuse that trust by stealing, selling or otherwise using the information.

6. Stop colleges and universities from selling student names to credit card companies without their consent.

Many colleges and universities sell the names of enrolled students to credit card companies. This is an abuse of the personal information students have entrusted to the college or university. The legislation requires school administrators to get students' consent before their information can be sold.

7. Protect your financial privacy.

Prohibit banks, credit unions and other financial institutions from selling your personal information without your express consent

8. Keep telecommunications information private.

Protect your personal information - including phone numbers from calls made and received - that is held by phone and other telecommunications companies.