FTC commissioners urge House Energy and Commerce panel to back expanded consumer-data authority

Members of the Federal Trade Commission today urged lawmakers to pass legislation giving the FTC more authority on consumer data security issues, including the ability to “seek civil penalties” to deter companies that would misuse consumer data and impact privacy.

“In my view, we need more authority,” FTC Chairman Joseph Simons said before the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on digital commerce and consumer protection. “I support data security legislation that would give us three things: one, the ability to...