On the recordJuly 9, 2013
Earlier today the Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit held a hearing on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's widespread collection and use of data. At this time, Washington is flooded with scandals over mass surveillance and political targeting. Over the past few months, Americans have seen and continue to see the potential for personal information to be misused and compromised by the government. Now another government agency that has touted itself as being transparent is spending millions of dollars to collect and store information on potentially millions of U.S. citizens. Even more troubling is that in today's hearing, the Acting Deputy Director of the CFPB couldn't even give a broad estimate of the number of Americans having their data monitored. Americans have a right to know that their government has gone too far. It is time for the CFPB and the administration to answer questions from Congress, allow for greater transparency, and safeguard the privacy and constitutional rights of American citizens. ____________________
