Federal Regulators Issue Final Model Privacy Notice Form

Eight federal regulatory agencies today released the final model privacy notice form. It’s supposed to make it easier for consumers to understand how financial institutions collect and share information about consumers. Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, institutions must notify consumers of their information-sharing practices and inform consumers of their right to opt out of certain sharing practices. The two model form issued today can be used by financial institutions to comply with these requirements. One form allows consumers to opt out of sharing of personal information. The other form has no opt-out.

Back in April, the Securities and Exchange Commission reopened the period for public comment because they tested the model notices and found weaknesses with the current form.

The final model privacy form was developed jointly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Trade Commission, National Credit Union Administration, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Office of Thrift Supervision, and Securities and Exchange Commission. There is also a joint release of the rule that goes along with the Final Model Privacy Form under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act

References:

• SEC Press Release: Federal Regulators Issue Final Model Privacy Notice Form
• Final Rule SEC 17 CFR Part 248 [Release Nos. 34-61003, IA-2950, IC-28997; File No. S7-09-07] RIN 3235-AJO6
• Model form with opt-out
• Model form with no opt-out
• Privacy Notices – Testing Effectiveness – prior post