New consumer protection rules would block data brokers from selling Americans sensitive info

Data brokers will be on a tighter leash when handling Americans' personal data, according to a new proposition by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Under the proposed rules, brokers would be blocked from selling personal and financial data that contains identifying information, including Social Security numbers and phone numbers — a move that would also limit the ability of scammers to procure such data and target individuals specifically. Data brokerage is a vastly und