WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA) made the following statement in reaction to the FTC investigation of the TJX data breach.

Rep. Markey said, “An FTC investigation into the TJX data breach should uncover the extent of the harm suffered by TJX customers and shine a light on the security weaknesses at TJX that were exploited by data thieves hunting for consumers’ personal information.  I hope that companies that collect and keep consumers’ credit card numbers, addresses and other sensitive information on file will learn lessons from the FTC’s investigation, so they can avoid privacy pitfalls that appear to have tripped up TJX.  Last month, I cosponsored a data security bill that requires companies to implement the strongest possible data safeguards and update them frequently to thwart data thieves.  Congress will soon begin to consider this important bill, and lessons learned from the TJX breach can help enhance it as the bill moves through the legislative process.”