May 27, 2014 11:42AM 

# This Time It’ll Work… 

By [Jim Harper](https://www.cato.org/people/jim-harper) 

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The Federal Trade Commission has unanimously recommended that [Congress should pass a law](http://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/data-brokers-call-transparency-accountability-report-federal-trade-commission-may-2014/140527databrokerreport.pdf) regulating “data brokers.”

Congress passed a law regulating credit bureaus forty-plus years ago, and the results [aren’t particularly impressive](https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/reputation-under-regulation-fair-credit-reporting-act-40-lessons-internet-privacy-debate).

##### Related Tags 

[Technology and Privacy](https://www.cato.org/technology-privacy) 

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