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State Representative Joe Atkins
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4192
For more information contact: Christina Gosack 651-296-5524
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Atkins Sponsors Foreign Call Center Bill
With more and more call center jobs being sent overseas, Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL – Inver Grove Heights) wants to make sure that your personal information is being protected.
"We're working here at home to pass some of the toughest identity theft laws in the nation," said Atkins. "But we can't guarantee that countries like India have the same protections. At the very least, consumers should know where a call center is located so we can choose for ourselves whether to give out private information."
Atkins' bill would require call centers in foreign countries to tell consumers where they are calling from before consumers give out private financial or medical information.
"Some companies want to hide the fact that they use offshore call centers," Atkins explained. "My question is: what do they have to hide? I think these companies should let their customers decide whether to share personal information over the phone with someone in a foreign country."
A recent investigation by the British newspaper Sun found that an undercover reporter was able to purchase the bank details, including account numbers and passwords, of a thousand people from an Indian call center employee who was later arrested.
"By shedding light on this issue, this law would encourage companies to provide maximum protection to consumers' personal information," said Atkins.
News Items
- Rep. Atkins, Sen. Lourey Introduce Health Insurance Exchange Legislation - (Posted: Jan 9 2013 3:44PM)
- Rep. Atkins – Statement on Deal to End NHL Lockout - (Posted: Jan 7 2013 2:05PM)
- Rep. Atkins to Hold Minnesota House Hearing on Economic Impact of Hockey Lockout - (Posted: Jan 2 2013 3:20PM)
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