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Category Archives: Business Regulation and Consumer Protection
Why Do Banks Share Your Financial Information and Are They Allowed To?
In a word: yes. If you’ve ever applied for a loan, you know that banks and credit unions collect a lot of personal financial information from you, such as your income and credit history. And it’s not uncommon for lenders … Continue reading
Posted in About GAO, Business Regulation and Consumer Protection, Collections
Tagged Alicia Puente Cackley, Consumer Financial Protection, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Consumer privacy, Financial Markets and Community Investment, FMCI, Information technology and cybersecurity, Nick Marinos
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Big bank regulators at risk of influence?
“Regulatory capture”—when regulators act in the interest of the industry they’re regulating, rather than the public good—is a big concern, especially when it comes to big banks. Today’s WatchBlog explores how it happens and what regulators can do to protect … Continue reading
Posted in Business Regulation and Consumer Protection, Financial Markets and Institutions
Tagged banking industry, banks, big banks, FMCI, independence, internal controls, Michael Clements, OCC, office of the comptroller of the currency, regulatory, regulatory capture, revolving door
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Your Internet Privacy
Do you shop or bank online? Use the Internet to stay connected with friends and family? Internet-based products and services regularly collect and share personal information about users, such as location, search terms and browsing history, contact information, and financial … Continue reading
Posted in Business Regulation and Consumer Protection, Information Security
Tagged Alicia Puente Cackley, banking, consumer protection, data protection, Federal Trade Commission, FMCI, internet of things, internet privacy, IOT, Mark Goldstein, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, online shopping, PI, privacy, social media
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Love is in the Air: A GAO Mixtape, Part 2
Today, we celebrate our love for you – and our work. Maybe you noticed this with our first Valentine’s Day mixtape last year? We Crush on providing you with objective, reliable information that helps the government save money and work … Continue reading
Posted in Business Regulation and Consumer Protection, Communications, Education, National Defense, Tax Policy and Administration
Tagged Air Force, Allison Bawden, CNSA, college prep, contractor oversight, counterfeit, Cristina Chaplain, Customs and Border Protection, DCM, Defense Department, Department of Education, Department of Energy, DOD, emergency communication, EWIS, F-22, firefighter, first responders, homeland security, IAT, identity theft, IRS, Jackie Nowicki, James McTigue, John Pendleton, Kim Gianopoulos, Mark Goldstein, National Nuclear Security Administration, NRE, PI, pilots, police, poverty, public schools, satellites, tax fraud, Valentine's Day
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Is There a Pink Tax?
We’ve reported on the pay gap between men and women and on women’s lower retirement income compared to men’s. Is there also a “Pink Tax,” where women’s products cost more than men’s? Today’s WatchBlog looks at our recent report on … Continue reading
Foreign Investment and National Security
The U.S. economy has historically been the largest recipient of foreign direct investment in the world—it received $373 billion in such investment in 2016. This investment can often be beneficial to the economy. However, ensuring that these foreign investments do … Continue reading
What You Should Know About Event Ticketing
Buying tickets to see your favorite band can be a frustrating experience. Tickets often sell out quickly, only to appear soon after on resale sites at high prices. And when you buy your tickets, you may be hit with high … Continue reading
Posted in Business Regulation and Consumer Protection, Podcast
Tagged brokers, event tickets, fees, FMCI, Michael Clements, sales, ticketing
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Personal Information, Private Companies
The recent Congressional hearings on Facebook have highlighted the ways that companies collect and use personal information for marketing purposes. So, what rights do you have to your own information? Our 2013 report on information resellers remains relevant today. Information … Continue reading
What You Need to Know about Mortgages and Equity
Ah, springtime: when “for sale” signs start popping up with the daffodils and crocuses! Before you call your real estate agent, you might want to read up on some of the more technical aspects of homebuying—like exactly what homeownership can … Continue reading