Ex-FTC Consumer Bureau chiefs, one from each party, agree on civil fines for enforcing security

Two former chiefs of the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Protection Bureau are shunning greater rulemaking authority for the agency and say the ability to seek civil penalties makes more sense for security -- rather than privacy -- violations.

The FTC currently has rulemaking ability to define unfair or deceptive practices under section 5 of the act that established it, but it involves establishing precedent through a trial and a process that could take several years.

In July, FTC Chairman ...