New York Thwarts Dumpster Diving State Enacts Key Privacy And Data Security Laws

New York’s new data security law impacts every financial institution and employer in New York, and probably every business that conducts business in New York. Simply discarding records (paper or electronic) containing "personal identifying information" now is prohibited. You must shred or destroy the record so that no one can obtain unauthorized access to the social security numbers, driver license numbers and other key information about your customers. "Personal identifying information" is defined to include any record containing information by which an individual customer can be identified, a broad definition. New York joins other states in adding the patchwork quilt of federal and state laws governing privacy and data security, and the cost and complexities of compliance. The law takes effect on December 04, 2006.