How to File a Charge If Your Privacy Has Been Broken

Individual privacy has traditionally been guarded by a number of rules and regulations. The Privacy Act concerns how business and government entities can share and allow you to access your personal information. The Federal Trade Commission enforces legal standards of privacy centering on the Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud. Charges and complaints can be filed through legal channels, often with the help of government entities.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet Access

File a Privacy Violation Charge

1. Send a consumer complaint form to the FTC if you feel a company has broken your privacy. The online form can be sent via the Internet (see Resources below) and could lead to charges being filed by your local law enforcement.
2. File your privacy charge within 180 days. Although the statutes of limitations for privacy violations vary from state to state, your complaint should be filed in a timely fashion from when you found out your privacy was broken.
3. Contact a lawyer about filing privacy violation charges in your state. Privacy lawyers specialize in cases of broken privacy, and are familiar with the forms needed to file a suit against corporate entities, government entities and other individuals.
4. Get the FTC's help investigating your identity theft by submitting a complaint to their Bureau of Consumer Protection's Consumer Response Center. The form is transmitted over the Internet and can be found on their Web site (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a copy of all relevant documents and information about how your privacy has been broken, including dates and specific violations.
• Request and read all privacy disclaimers and disclosures before giving any company your private information.
• Understand that the Federal Trade Commission does not resolve complaints. They share whatever complaints and privacy violation information they gather with law enforcement if relevant, and store it in their online database called Consumer Sentinel.