Va. Bill would Protect Against Identity Theft

WASHINGTON -- Some Virginia lawmakers want better protection against identity theft.

They are proposing a bill that would require victims to be notified of any breach of security when personally identifiable information is hacked or stolen from a government or private agency.

Delegate Robert Brink (D-Arlington) says various types of information would be better protected.

"Social security numbers, driver's license numbers or an account number or a credit card or debit card number -- if that's what the agency holds," he says.

Brink says the law would also give state agencies a year to tighten security on their data bases.

Almost half of the states in the U.S. have already approved similar laws after laptops were stolen from government agencies last year and several huge medical firms were hacked.

The bill will be introduced on Wednesday, when the General Assembly opens.

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