Laws

FACTA: Click here for the FACTA home page

HIPAA (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act): covers the health care industry and was established to set national standards for electronic health care transactions, health plans, and employers. Also covered under this law is patient information which requires health care providers to destroy it before discarding it.

Graham Leach Bliley Act: which was established to cover the financial services industry which states that they must destroy consumer information before throwing it away. Fines are imposed for non-compliance

1974 Federal Privacy Act: was established to cover government agencies which are required to protect the privacy of businesses and individuals in regards to information that they may hold or have. These agencies are liable if any information is released without prior approval.

California Civil Code 1798.80-1798.84: One of the few states that even has a destruction law. It covers any California businesses which are required to destroy any personal information or customer records that are no longer of any value. These businesses may be liable for civil damages for non-compliance.