Senator has co-sponsored the Consumer Privacy Protection Act to require companies to defend against cyberattacks and data breaches, quickly provide consumers with notice and protection

Boston (November 30, 2018) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement in response to news from Marriott that its reservation system had been hacked, compromising the personal details of up to 500 million guests as far back as 2014.

“Checking in to a hotel should not mean checking out of privacy and security protections,” said Senator Markey, a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. “Preventing massive data breaches isn’t just about protecting privacy, it’s also about protecting our pocketbooks. Breaches like this can lead to identity theft and crippling financial fraud. They are a black cloud hanging over the United States’ bright economic horizon. The American people deserve real action. It’s time for Congress to pass comprehensive consumer privacy and data security legislation that requires companies to adhere to strong data security standards, directs them to only collect the data they actually need to service their customer, and creates penalties for companies that fail to meet them.”

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