Privacy Digest

Strategic Plan, Web Site, Released to Combat Identity Theft: "Identity theft 'is a personal invasion, done in secret, that can rob innocent men and women of their good names.'"

[...]

The President's Identity Theft Task Force Strategic Plan to combat identity theft was released today. The strategic plan is the end result of a joint effort by a 17-agency task force, co-chaired by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and FTC Chairman Deborah Majoras, to formulate a comprehensive and fully coordinated plan to attack this widespread and destructive crime.

The plan focuses on ways to improve the effectiveness of criminal prosecutions of identity theft; enhance data protection for sensitive consumer information maintained by the public sector, private sector, and consumers; provide more comprehensive and effective guidance for consumers and the business community; and improve recovery and assistance for consumers.
"Identity theft is a crime that goes far beyond the loss of money or property," said Gonzales. "It is a personal invasion, done in secret, that can rob innocent men and women of their good names. The strategic plan we are releasing today is part of a comprehensive effort to fight this crime, protect consumers, and help victims put their lives back together."

The Task Force was created by an executive order in May 2006, and developed 31 major recommendations for the plan. "When the President established this Task Force last May, he met with victims of identity theft," said Gonzales. "He heard their voices -- and he asked the Task Force to step up and make a difference. With this report we have made good on that promise."

In addition to the release of the Task Force's Strategic Plan, a Web site was launched today which contains the full Strategic Plan, and will eventually serve as clearinghouse for educational resources for consumers, businesses, and law enforcement on ways to prevent and detect identity theft, and help victims recover.

(Read Original Article - Via GT: Security and Privacy.)