U.S. Congress to hold hearings in ChoicePoint case

As CBS reports, a Senate committee said it will hold hearings on identity theft and information brokers. This follows the revelation that a databank of ChoicePoint (see previous blog entry) with information on millions of people was accessed by criminals.

The report also states that California authorities estimate the number of people affected by the breach is 500,000 rather than the 144,778 ChoicePoint has stated so far.

The fate of one person affected, a retired banker, and described in the report makes instructive reading to find out just what horrible (and long term!) consequences such an event can have. Democrat Senators Dianne Feinstein of California and Charles Schumer of New York are planning to introduce legislation to alter the situation.