<\/p>\n
December 16, 2017<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Contact: NCL Communications, Cindy Hoang, cindyh@nclnet.org, (202) 207-2832\u00a0<\/p>\n
Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) today condemned Yahoo! Inc. for putting its profits ahead of the security its users\u2019 data. The latest data breach of one billion users\u2019 accounts — quite possibly the largest on record — comes on the heels of an earlier breach that affected a reported 500 million users, itself a record at the time it was disclosed. The following statement is attributable to John Breyault, National Consumers League Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe have reached a tipping point in our long national debate about data security. For too long, policymakers have stood on the sidelines while data breaches have grown bigger and more damaging for consumers. While details are still emerging about who exactly was behind this latest breach, it is clear that Yahoo gave short shrift<\/a> to the security of consumers\u2019 personal data in their quest for profits. In the near term, the Federal Trade Commission should immediately begin an investigation of Yahoo\u2019s lax data security practices. In the next Congress, lawmakers must recognize the incredible harm these breaches have wrought on consumers\u2019 data security and the need for comprehensive data security legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n