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Free IAPP Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States CIPP-US Exam Questions

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Question 1

SCENARIO -

Please use the following to answer the next question:

Jane is a U.S. citizen and a senior software engineer at California-based Jones Labs, a major software supplier to the U.S. Department of Defense and other U.S. federal agencies. Jane's manager, Patrick, is a French citizen who has been living in California for over a decade. Patrick has recently begun to suspect that Jane is an insider secretly transmitting trade secrets to foreign intelligence. Unbeknownst to Patrick, the FBI has already received a hint from anonymous whistleblower, and jointly with the National Security Agency is investigating Jane's possible implication in a sophisticated foreign espionage campaign.

Ever since the pandemic, Jane has been working from home. To complete her daily tasks she uses her corporate laptop, which after each login conspicuously provides notice that the equipment belongs to Jones Labs and may be monitored according to the enacted privacy policy and employment handbook. Jane also has a corporate mobile phone that she uses strictly for business, the terms of which are defined in her employment contract and elaborated upon in her employee handbook. Both the privacy policy and the employee handbook are revised annually by a reputable California law firm specializing in privacy law. Jane also has a personal iPhone that she uses for private purposes only.

Jones Labs has its primary data center in San Francisco, which is managed internally by Jones Labs engineers. The secondary data center, managed by Amazon AWS, is physically located in the UK for disaster recovery purposes. Jones Labs' mobile devices backup is managed by a mid-sized mobile defense company located in Denver, which physically stores the data in Canada to reduce costs. Jones Labs MS Office documents are securely stored in a Microsoft Office 365 data center based in Ireland. Manufacturing data of Jones Labs is stored in Taiwan and managed by a local supplier that has no presence in the U.S.

Before inspecting any GPS geolocation data from Jane's corporate mobile phone, Patrick should first do what?

Correct Answer: D. Ensure that such activity is permitted under Jane's employment contract or the company's employee privacy policy.
Explanation:

Patrick should first ensure that inspecting GPS geolocation data from Jane's corporate mobile phone is permitted under Jane's employment contract or the company's employee privacy policy. This is because Jane has a reasonable expectation of privacy in her location information, even if she uses a corporate-owned device for business purposes. The Fourth Amendment protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government, and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) prohibits unauthorized interception or access to electronic communications by private parties. Therefore, Patrick cannot inspect Jane's GPS data without a valid legal basis, such as consent, contract, or court order. Obtaining prior consent from Jane pursuant to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (A) is not relevant, as this law regulates unsolicited calls and text messages, not location tracking. Revising emerging workplace privacy best practices with a reputable advocacy organization (B) is not sufficient, as Patrick still needs to comply with the existing legal obligations and contractual terms. Obtaining a subpoena from law enforcement, or a court order, directing Jones Labs to collect the GPS geolocation data is not necessary, as Patrick is not acting on behalf of the government or in response to a legal request. However, if Patrick does obtain such a legal order, he should also comply with it and notify Jane of the disclosure, unless prohibited by law.Reference:

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.1.2, p. 115-116

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.2.1, p. 118-119

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.2.2, p. 120-121

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.2.3, p. 122-123

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.1, p. 124-125

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.2, p. 126-127

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.3, p. 128-129

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.4, p. 130-131

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.5, p. 132-133

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.6, p. 134-135

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.7, p. 136-137

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.8, p. 138-139

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.9, p. 140-141

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.10, p. 142-143

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.11, p. 144-145

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.12, p. 146-147

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.13, p. 148-149

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.14, p. 150-151

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.15, p. 152-153

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.16, p. 154-155

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.17, p. 156-157


Question 2

When designing contact tracing apps in relation to COVID-19 or any other diagnosed virus, all of the following privacy measures should be considered EXCEPT?

Correct Answer: C. Opt-out choice.
Explanation:

Contact tracing apps are designed to help public health authorities track and contain the spread of COVID-19 or any other diagnosed virus by notifying users who have been in close contact with an infected person. However, these apps also raise privacy concerns, as they collect and process sensitive personal data, such as health status and location information. Therefore, contact tracing apps should follow the principles of privacy by design and default, which means that they should incorporate privacy measures into their development and operation, and offer the highest level of privacy protection to users.

Some of the privacy measures that should be considered when designing contact tracing apps are:

Data retention: Contact tracing apps should only retain the personal data they collect for as long as necessary to achieve their public health purpose, and delete or anonymize the data afterwards. Data retention periods should be clearly communicated to users and based on scientific evidence and legal requirements.

Use limitations: Contact tracing apps should only use the personal data they collect for the specific and legitimate purpose of contact tracing, and not for any other purposes, such as commercial, law enforcement, or surveillance. Use limitations should be enforced by technical and organizational measures, such as encryption, access controls, and audits.

User confidentiality: Contact tracing apps should protect the confidentiality of users' personal data and identity, and not disclose them to third parties without their consent or legal authorization. User confidentiality should be ensured by technical and organizational measures, such as pseudonymization, aggregation, and data minimization.

Opt-out choice, on the other hand, is not a privacy measure that should be considered when designing contact tracing apps, as it would undermine their effectiveness and public health objective. Contact tracing apps rely on voluntary participation and widespread adoption by users to function properly and achieve their purpose. Therefore, offering users the option to opt out of the app or certain features, such as data sharing or notifications, would reduce the app's coverage and accuracy, and potentially expose users and others to greater health risks. Instead of opt-out choice, contact tracing apps should provide users with clear and transparent information about how the app works, what data it collects and how it uses it, what benefits and risks it entails, and what rights and controls users have over their data. This way, users can make an informed and voluntary decision to use the app or not, based on their own preferences and values.


[IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide], Chapter 2: Privacy by Design and Default, pp. 35-36.

[IAPP CIPP/US Body of Knowledge], Section II: Limits on Private-sector Collection and Use of Data, Subsection B: Privacy by Design, pp. 9-10.

[IAPP Glossary], Terms: Contact Tracing, Privacy by Design, Privacy by Default.

Question 3

Question 4

What is the main purpose of the CAN-SPAM Act?

Question 5

What was the original purpose of the Federal Trade Commission Act?

Correct Answer: C. To enforce antitrust laws
Explanation:

The Federal Trade Commission Act (FTCA) was adopted in 1914 as part of the Progressive Era reforms that aimed to curb the power and influence of monopolies and trusts in the U.S. economy. The FTCA created the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as an independent agency to investigate and prevent unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce. The FTCA also gave the FTC the authority to issue cease and desist orders, seek injunctions, and impose civil penalties for violations of the law. The FTCA was intended to complement and supplement the existing antitrust laws, such as the Sherman Act and the Clayton Act, that prohibited restraints of trade, price-fixing, mergers, and other anticompetitive conduct.

The other options are not correct, because:

The FTCA did not explicitly address privacy rights of U.S. citizens, although the FTC later used its authority under the FTCA to enforce against unfair or deceptive privacy practices, such as making false or misleading claims, failing to disclose material information, or violating consumers' choices or expectations regarding their personal data.

The FTCA did not specifically focus on consumer protection, although the FTC later expanded its scope to include consumer protection issues, such as advertising and marketing, credit and finance, privacy and security, and consumer education. The FTC also enforced other consumer protection laws, such as the Truth in Lending Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, and the CAN-SPAM Act.

The FTCA did not authorize the FTC to negotiate consent decrees with companies violating personal privacy, although the FTC later used consent decrees as a common tool to settle privacy cases and impose remedial measures, such as audits, reports, and compliance programs. Consent decrees are agreements between the FTC and the parties involved in a case that resolve the FTC's charges without admitting liability or wrongdoing.


FTC website, Federal Trade Commission Act

Britannica website, Federal Trade Commission Act (FTCA)

IAPP CIPP/US Study Guide, Chapter 1: Introduction to the U.S. Privacy Environment, pp. 11-12

IAPP website, Federal Trade Commission Act, Section 5 of

Question 6

Which of the following state laws has an entity exemption for organizations subject to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)?

Correct Answer: B. California Privacy Rights Act.
Explanation:

The Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) is a state law that provides comprehensive privacy rights and obligations for consumers and businesses in Virginia. The VCDPA applies to any entity that conducts business in Virginia or produces products or services that are targeted to residents of Virginia and that either: (a) controls or processes personal data of at least 100,000 consumers; or (b) controls or processes personal data of at least 25,000 consumers and derives over 50% of gross revenue from the sale of personal data. However, the VCDPA also provides several exemptions for certain types of entities and data, including an entity exemption for financial institutions or data subject to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA). This means that organizations that are regulated by the GLBA are not subject to the VCDPA, regardless of the type or source of data they collect or process. The GLBA is a federal law that regulates the collection, use, and disclosure of personal financial information by financial institutions and their affiliates. The GLBA applies to any business that is significantly engaged in financial activities, such as banks, credit unions, securities firms, insurance companies, and certain fintech companies. The GLBA requires financial institutions to provide notice and choice to consumers about their privacy practices, to safeguard the security and confidentiality of consumer information, and to limit the sharing of consumer information with third parties. The GLBA also preempts state laws only to the extent that they are inconsistent with the GLBA, unless the state law provides greater protection to consumers.

The other state laws listed in the question do not have an entity exemption for organizations subject to the GLBA, but they may have partial or data exemptions for certain types of information that are regulated by the GLBA. For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) are state laws that provide comprehensive privacy rights and obligations for consumers and businesses in California. The CCPA and the CPRA apply to any business that collects or sells the personal information of California residents and that meets one or more of the following thresholds: (a) has annual gross revenues in excess of $25 million; (b) alone or in combination, annually buys, receives for the business's commercial purposes, sells, or shares for commercial purposes, the personal information of 50,000 or more consumers, households, or devices; or derives 50% or more of its annual revenues from selling consumers' personal information. However, the CCPA and the CPRA also provide several exemptions for certain types of entities and data, including a data exemption for personal information collected, processed, sold, or disclosed pursuant to the GLBA, if it is in conflict with the GLBA. This means that information that is subject to the GLBA is exempt from the privacy requirements of the CCPA and the CPRA, but not from the data breach liability provisions. The CCPA and the CPRA do not exempt financial institutions or other entities that are regulated by the GLBA from their scope, unless they only collect or process information that is subject to the GLBA.

The Nevada Privacy Law is a state law that provides privacy rights and obligations for consumers and operators of websites or online services in Nevada. The Nevada Privacy Law applies to any person who owns or operates an Internet website or online service for commercial purposes that collects and maintains covered information from consumers who reside in Nevada and use or visit the Internet website or online service. Covered information includes any one or more of the following items of personally identifiable information about a consumer collected by an operator through an Internet website or online service and maintained by the operator in an accessible form: (a) a first and last name; (b) a home or other physical address which includes the name of a street and the name of a city or town; an electronic mail address; (d) a telephone number; (e) a social security number; (f) an identifier that allows a specific person to be contacted either physically or online; or (g) any other information concerning a person collected from the person through the Internet website or online service of the operator and maintained by the operator in combination with an identifier in a form that makes the information personally identifiable. However, the Nevada Privacy Law also provides several exemptions for certain types of entities and data, including a data exemption for any data that is subject to the GLBA. This means that information that is regulated by the GLBA is exempt from the Nevada Privacy Law, regardless of the type or source of data. The Nevada Privacy Law does not exempt financial institutions or other entities that are subject to the GLBA from its scope, unless they only collect or process information that is subject to the GLBA.Reference:

VCDPA, Section 59.1-572 (A) (1)

GLBA, 15 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.

CCPA, Section 1798.145 (e)

CPRA, Section 1798.121

Nevada Privacy Law, Section 603A.340 (1) (a)


Question 7

In 2014, Google was alleged to have violated the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) through its Apps for Education suite of tools. For what specific practice did students sue the company?

Question 8

When developing a company privacy program, which of the following relationships will most help a privacy professional develop useful guidance for the organization?

Correct Answer: D. Relationships with individuals across company departments and at different levels in the organization's hierarchy.
Explanation:

When developing a company privacy program, a privacy professional needs to understand the business objectives, processes, and risks of the organization, as well as the legal and regulatory requirements and best practices for privacy. To achieve this, a privacy professional should establish and maintain relationships with individuals across company departments and at different levels in the organization's hierarchy, such as IT, marketing, human resources, legal, compliance, security, and senior management. These relationships will help the privacy professional to gather relevant information, identify privacy issues and gaps, communicate privacy policies and procedures, provide training and awareness, monitor compliance, and resolve conflicts. The other relationships listed are also important, but not as essential as the internal relationships for developing a company privacy program.Reference:

IAPP CIPP/US Certified Information Privacy Professional Study Guide, Chapter 5: Developing a Privacy Program, Section 5.1: Privacy Program Framework, p. 145-146

IAPP CIPP/US Body of Knowledge, Domain V: Developing a Privacy Program, Objective V.A: Identify the components of a privacy program framework, Subobjective V.A.1: Identify the roles and responsibilities of individuals within the organization, p. 23

IAPP CIPP/US Exam Blueprint, Domain V: Developing a Privacy Program, Objective V.A: Identify the components of a privacy program framework, Subobjective V.A.1: Identify the roles and responsibilities of individuals within the organization, p. 7


Question 9

Which of the following best describes the ASIA-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) principles?

Correct Answer: C. An international court ruling on personal information held in the commercial sector.
Explanation:

The APEC principles are part of the APEC Privacy Framework, which is an inter-governmental agreement among the 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to promote information privacy protection and the free flow of information in the region. The APEC Privacy Framework consists of four parts: a preamble, a scope, a set of nine information privacy principles, and an implementation section. The APEC information privacy principles are:

Preventing harm: Personal information controllers should take reasonable steps to protect personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction, and to address the risks and challenges posed by specific technologies and business practices.

Notice: Personal information controllers should provide clear and easily accessible statements about their personal information handling practices, including the types of personal information they collect, the purposes for which they collect it, the types of third parties to which they disclose it, the choices and means they offer individuals for limiting the use and disclosure of their personal information, and how they can contact the personal information controller with inquiries or complaints.

Collection limitation: Personal information controllers should limit the collection of personal information to what is relevant for the purposes of collection and should collect personal information by lawful and fair means and, where appropriate, with notice to, or consent of, the individual concerned.

Use limitation: Personal information controllers should use personal information only for the purposes for which it was collected or for purposes that a reasonable person would consider appropriate in the circumstances, and should retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the stated purposes or as required by law or regulation.

Choice: Personal information controllers should offer individuals choices and means to limit the use and disclosure of their personal information, where appropriate, and should respect the choices made by individuals.

Integrity of personal information: Personal information controllers should take reasonable steps to ensure that personal information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date for the purposes for which it is used.

Security safeguards: Personal information controllers should protect personal information with reasonable security safeguards against risks such as loss, unauthorized access, destruction, misuse, modification, and disclosure.

Access and correction: Personal information controllers should give individuals the ability to access and, where appropriate, correct their personal information that is under their control, subject to reasonable limitations, such as where the burden or expense of providing access would be disproportionate to the risks to the individual's privacy, or where the legitimate rights of persons other than the individual would be violated.

Accountability: Personal information controllers should be accountable for complying with the privacy principles and should have in place mechanisms to ensure their implementation and compliance.

The APEC Privacy Framework is not a binding legal instrument, but rather a voluntary and flexible arrangement that allows each member economy to implement the principles according to its own domestic laws and regulations, applicable international frameworks, and cultural and social values. The APEC Privacy Framework also provides for cross-border cooperation and information sharing among member economies, as well as the development of mechanisms to facilitate the cross-border transfer of personal information, such as the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) System and the APEC Privacy Recognition for Processors (PRP) System. These mechanisms are based on a common set of rules and standards derived from the APEC Privacy Framework, and are intended to enhance the protection of personal information that flows across borders and to increase the interoperability among different privacy regimes in the region and beyond.Reference:

APEC Privacy Framework (2015)

APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) System

APEC Privacy Recognition for Processors (PRP) System

APEC Privacy Framework: A New Model for Transborder Data Flows


Question 10

Which of the following federal agencies does NOT have regulatory authority related to privacy?

Correct Answer: C. U.S. Department of Commerce.
Explanation:

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) is a federal agency that promotes economic growth, trade, and innovation, but does not have regulatory authority related to privacy.The DOC administers several voluntary privacy frameworks, such as the Privacy Shield, the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules, and the NIST Privacy Framework, but these are not legally binding or enforceable by the DOC12.The DOC also participates in international privacy negotiations and dialogues, but does not have the power to issue rules or regulations on privacy matters3.

The other three options are examples of federal agencies that do have regulatory authority related to privacy.The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is an independent agency that enforces consumer protection laws, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and the Dodd-Frank Act, which contain privacy and data security provisions4. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is a federal agency that regulates transportation safety, security, and infrastructure, and has issued privacy rules for airlines, motor carriers, and railroads.The Federal Reserve (FRB) is an independent agency that oversees the nation's monetary policy, banking system, and financial stability, and has issued privacy rules for financial institutions under its jurisdiction.Reference:1:Privacy Shield Program Overview | International Trade Administration2:NIST Privacy Framework | NIST3:Privacy and Data Security | U.S. Department of Commerce4:Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - Wikipedia: [Privacy | US Department of Transportation] : [Privacy - Federal Reserve Board]


Question 11

When may a financial institution share consumer information with non-affiliated third parties for marketing purposes?

Correct Answer: C. After disclosing information-sharing practices to customers and after giving them an opportunity to opt out.
Explanation:

According to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and its implementing Regulation P, a financial institution may share consumer information with non-affiliated third parties for marketing purposes only after disclosing its information-sharing practices to customers and after giving them an opportunity to opt out of such sharing. The GLBA defines a customer as a consumer who has a continuing relationship with a financial institution that provides one or more financial products or services to be used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. A consumer is an individual who obtains or has obtained a financial product or service from a financial institution that is to be used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, or that individual's legal representative. A non-affiliated third party is any person except a financial institution's affiliate or a person employed jointly by a financial institution and a company that is not the financial institution's affiliate. An affiliate is any company that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with another company.

The GLBA requires that a financial institution provide a privacy notice to customers: (i) at the time of establishing the customer relationship; (ii) annually during the continuation of the customer relationship; and (iii) before disclosing any nonpublic personal information (NPI) about the customer to any non-affiliated third party, unless an exception applies. The privacy notice must describe the categories of NPI that the financial institution collects and discloses; the categories of affiliates and non-affiliated third parties to whom the financial institution discloses NPI; the categories of NPI disclosed to service providers and joint marketers; the policies and practices with respect to protecting the confidentiality and security of NPI; and the disclosures of NPI to which the customer has a right to opt out. The financial institution must also provide a reasonable means for the customer to opt out of the disclosure of NPI to non-affiliated third parties, such as a check-off box, a reply form, or a toll-free telephone number. The opt-out notice must be clear and conspicuous, and must state that the customer can opt out at any time. The opt-out notice must also explain how the customer can opt out, and the effect of opting out. The financial institution must honor the customer's opt-out direction as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving it, and must not disclose any NPI to which the opt-out applies, unless an exception applies.

The GLBA provides several exceptions to the opt-out requirement, such as when the disclosure of NPI is necessary to effect, administer, or enforce a transaction requested or authorized by the customer; when the disclosure of NPI is required or permitted by law; when the disclosure of NPI is to a consumer reporting agency in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act; or when the disclosure of NPI is to a person that performs marketing services on behalf of the financial institution or on behalf of the financial institution and another financial institution under a joint marketing agreement. A joint marketing agreement is a formal written contract between a financial institution and any other person under which the parties agree to offer, endorse, or sponsor a financial product or service. The joint marketing agreement must prohibit the other person from using or disclosing the NPI for any purpose other than offering, endorsing, or sponsoring the financial product or service covered by the agreement.

The GLBA also requires that a financial institution provide a privacy notice to consumers who are not customers before disclosing any NPI about the consumer to any non-affiliated third party, unless an exception applies. The financial institution does not need to provide an opt-out notice to consumers who are not customers, unless it has a customer relationship with them. However, if the financial institution establishes a customer relationship with a consumer who was previously not a customer, it must provide a privacy notice and an opt-out notice to the customer as described above.


Guide to the Gramm--Leach--Bliley Act

GLBA or FCRA? Data Sharing Between Affiliates and Non-Affiliates

Existing Privacy Laws Already Regulate Information Sharing

Why Do Banks Share Your Financial Information and Are They Allowed To?

[IAPP CIPP/US Certified Information Privacy Professional Study Guide], Chapter 5, pages 161-165.

Question 12

In March 2012, the FTC released a privacy report that outlined three core principles for companies handling consumer dat

a. Which was NOT one of these principles?

Correct Answer: B. Enhancing security measures.
Explanation:

The FTC's privacy report, titled ''Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change'', proposed a framework for companies that collect and use consumer data. The framework consisted of three core principles: privacy by design, simplified consumer choice, and greater transparency. Privacy by design means that companies should incorporate privacy protections into their everyday business practices, such as data security, reasonable collection limits, sound retention practices, and data accuracy. Simplified consumer choice means that companies should provide consumers with clear and easy-to-understand choices about the collection and use of their data, and respect their preferences. Greater transparency means that companies should increase the visibility and accessibility of their data practices, such as providing clear and concise privacy notices, educating consumers about the commercial data practices, and providing consumers with access to their data. Enhancing security measures is not one of the core principles of the FTC's privacy framework, although it is a component of the privacy by design principle.Reference:

IAPP CIPP/US Body of Knowledge, Section I.A.1.a

IAPP CIPP/US Textbook, Chapter 1, pp. 13-15

FTC Privacy Report, Executive Summary, pp. i-vii


Question 13

All of the following common law torts are relevant to employee privacy under US law EXCEPT?

Correct Answer: D. Conversion.

Question 14

What does the Massachusetts Personal Information Security Regulation require as it relates to encryption of personal information?

Correct Answer: D. The encryption of all personal information of Massachusetts residents when stored on portable devices.
Explanation:

The Massachusetts Personal Information Security Regulation (201 CMR 17.00) requires that any person or entity that owns or licenses personal information of Massachusetts residents must implement and maintain a comprehensive written information security program that includes administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect such information.One of the technical requirements of the regulation is to encrypt all personal information of Massachusetts residents that is stored on laptops or other portable devices, regardless of where the equipment is located12.The regulation defines personal information as a person's first name and last name or first initial and last name in combination with any one or more of the following data elements that relate to such person: (a) Social Security number; (b) driver's license number or state-issued identification card number; or financial account number, or credit or debit card number, with or without any required security code, access code, personal identification number or password, that would permit access to a resident's financial account1.The regulation also requires encryption of all transmitted records and files containing personal information that will travel across public networks, and encryption of all data containing personal information to be transmitted wirelessly1.Reference:

Regulation 201 CMR 17.00: Standards for the Protection of Personal Information of MA Residents

Massachusetts Law Raises the Bar for Data Security


Question 15

In what way does the ''Red Flags Rule'' under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) relate to the owner of a grocery store who uses a money wire service?

Correct Answer: D. It does not apply because the owner is not a creditor
Explanation:

The Red Flags Rule is a regulation that requires financial institutions and creditors to implement a written identity theft prevention program that is designed to detect, prevent, and mitigate identity theft in connection with the opening of a covered account or any existing covered account1.A creditor is any person who regularly extends, renews, or continues credit; any person who regularly arranges for the extension, renewal, or continuation of credit; or any assignee of an original creditor who participates in the decision to extend, renew, or continue credit2.A covered account is an account that a financial institution or creditor offers or maintains, primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, that involves or is designed to permit multiple payments or transactions, such as a credit card account, mortgage loan, automobile loan, margin account, cell phone account, utility account, checking account, or savings account2.A money wire service is a service that allows customers to send or receive money electronically3. The owner of a grocery store who uses a money wire service is not a creditor because he or she does not regularly extend, renew, or continue credit to customers. Therefore, the Red Flags Rule does not apply to the owner of a grocery store who uses a money wire service.Reference:

1: FTC, Red Flags Rule, https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/privacy-security/red-flags-rule

2: FTC, Fighting Identity Theft with the Red Flags Rule: A How-To Guide for Business, https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/fighting-identity-theft-red-flags-rule-how-guide-business

3: Alessa, Wire Transfer Red Flags: Understanding Money Laundering and Fraud Risks, https://alessa.com/webinars/wire-transfer-red-flags-and-fraud-risks/