Every day, Americans trust their personal and financial data to private companies, from social media platforms to healthcare providers, and from financial institutions to retail giants. In exchange, Americans expect a reasonable level of protection for their most sensitive information. Yet, week after week, we see the same headlines of large corporations falling victim to cyber-attacks, resulting in massive data leaks that expose Social Security numbers, bank details, and personal information to the dark web. The reality is stark: every time this happens, it puts Americans at high risk of identity theft, financial loss, and devastating credit consequences.
When breaches happen, the affected companies typically offer limited, short-term credit monitoring to those impacted. But is this enough? The fallout from identity theft can linger for years, with Americans left to pick up the pieces long after corporate apologies fade. The government has an opportunity—and, I argue, an obligation—to step in and defend Americans’ economic security from these repeated failures in data protection.
The Plan
I propose a federal initiative to provide free, permanent credit monitoring and identity protection services to all American citizens. Here’s how it would work:
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National Coverage: Every American would have access to basic identity protection services, funded by a combination of government resources and private sector accountability.
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Company Accountability: Businesses that fail to meet data protection standards would face significant fines. These fines would feed directly into a fund supporting this identity protection service, ensuring that those responsible for data breaches contribute to solutions for the public they’ve put at risk.
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Proactive Defense of the Citizenry: Just as the government takes measures to defend Americans against foreign and domestic threats, it should take measures to protect its citizens from preventable financial harms arising from digital vulnerabilities.
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Boosting National Confidence: This initiative would restore Americans’ confidence that they are not alone when impacted by these breaches. By providing a reliable safety net, the government would empower its citizens, helping them feel secure in the digital age.
This is not just an economic safeguard; it is a reaffirmation of American citizens’ trust in their government to stand up for them against private interests that too often prioritize profit over protection. And this is not a handout—it’s a measure rooted in accountability and fairness. For every company that fails to protect its users, it should be required to bear responsibility. This proposal aligns with conservative values of personal responsibility, limited but effective government intervention, and a commitment to protecting Americans’ livelihoods and liberties.
This is about empowering Americans by protecting their hard-earned credit and financial stability and ensuring that corporations take their duty to protect data seriously.
Conclusion
Data security is no longer a private issue—it’s a public crisis. By instituting a national credit monitoring and identity protection program funded by the fines of those who fail to safeguard our information, we can both raise the bar for data security in this country and protect every American citizen. This proposal is an investment in the strength and stability of our nation’s people and economy, ensuring that every American can safely navigate the digital age.