Updates
EPIC Urges CFPB to Grant Petition Addressing Coerced Debt
October 10, 2024
On October 4, EPIC filed a letter comment with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in support of a petition by the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) and the Center for Survivor Agency and Justice (CSAJ) urging the CFPB to open a Fair Credit Reporting Act rulemaking to address issues of coerced debt. Coerced debt occurs when an abuser either takes out debt in their victim’s name or coerces their victim to take on debt in their own name. NCLC’s and CSAJ’s petition outlines the extent of this problem, identifies the CFPB’s authority to fix it, and suggests changes such as modifying the definition of “identity theft” to combat issues like coerced debt. (The question of whether there was consent to incur a debt can also arise in the context of foster youth or victims of human trafficking.)
In its letter, EPIC voiced its strong support for NCLC’s and CSAJ’s petition and encouraged the CFPB to consider related efforts by the Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse.
EPIC advocates for laws, regulations, and policies that safeguard user privacy and protect users from technology-facilitated abuse and harassment, including actions against stalkerware developers. EPIC also filed an amicus brief urging that dating platform companies be held liable when they ignore harassment and abuse. EPIC routinely calls on the CFPB to strengthen privacy protections for consumers. Recently, EPIC filed comments in support of the CFPB’s proposals to prohibit the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports, comments on the CFPB’s Personal Financial Data Rights Rulemaking, and comments on the CFPB’s proposed revisions to Fair Credit Reporting Act rules, which among other changes would clarify that data brokers must comply with FCRA.
Support Our Work
EPIC's work is funded by the support of individuals like you, who allow us to continue to protect privacy, open government, and democratic values in the information age.
Donate