FTC Wants to Keep Collecting Safeguards Data—Shocker!
Published Date: 8/25/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) is seeking public comment on its proposal to extend for an additional three years the information collection requirements contained in the agency's rule governing Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information (the Safeguards Rule). The current clearance expires on December 31, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Three‑Year Extension of Reporting Collection
The FTC is proposing to extend for an additional three years the information collection requirements under the Safeguards Rule. The current OMB clearance for this collection expires on December 31, 2026, and the FTC is accepting comments through October 26, 2026.
Estimated Annual Burden and Costs for Firms
The FTC estimates the reporting requirement will affect about 163 financial institutions per year, require about 5 hours per report, total 815 annual hours, and cost approximately $370 per report, yielding an estimated total annual labor cost of $60,310.
Breach Reporting Threshold: 500 Consumers
Under the Safeguards Rule (16 CFR 314.4(j)), financial institutions must report to the FTC when unencrypted customer information involving 500 or more consumers is acquired without authorization. This reporting threshold (500 consumers) triggers the electronic notification to the Commission.
Online Reporting Form; No Capital Costs Expected
The Commission provides an online electronic reporting form on its website to facilitate reports, and it expects that covered financial institutions will not incur significant capital or other non‑labor costs to comply.
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Key Dates
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