Data theft affects 145,000 nationwide (Choicepoint)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6979897/

Database giant ChoicePoint said late Wednesday that 145,000 consumers nationwide were placed at risk by a recent data theft at the company. Previously, the company had suggested the theft only affected California residents.

ChoicePoint pledged to notify all of the potential victims. Spokesman James Lee said the company was informing consumers as a precaution, suggesting they keep an eye out for signs of identity theft.

Atlanta-based ChoicePoint maintains and sells background files on virtually every adult American, culled from millions of public and private records. Last week, the firm sent some 35,000 letters to California residents telling them their personal data may have been stolen by criminals who set up fake companies and downloaded information from ChoicePoint.

California is the only state that by law requires disclosure of such data leaks, and ChoicePoint initially suggested the theft of information might be limited to that state.

Lee said ChoicePoint decided to widen the notification after meeting with law enforcement officials on Wednesday. An additional 110,000 letters will be mailed in the coming days, he said.

exactly how this happened.

They would just sweep this under the rug. Nobody would know a thing.

And I bet the law that requires this notification gets targeted by one of Arnold's "make California business friendly" initiative.

voter lists, getting data on citizens in Latin America, etc.
I wonder which party they contribute to?