Galloway Announces Measure to Protect Consumers After a Digital Hack

A local lawmaker is crafting legislation in an effort to protect residents when their digital wallets are breached.

As a longtime proponent of consumer protections, state Rep. John Galloway is introducing legislation that would seek to include digital wallets in the Breach of Personal Information Notification Act, he announced Tuesday.

Galloway said the measure is designed to protect consumers after a digital account (s) is breached by hackers.

“Digital wallets have made it so easy for us to pay for everyday things, but there is a great risk that digital wallets could be easily hacked, and our savings stolen from us,” Galloway, D-Bucks, said. “My legislation would protect Pennsylvanians by making sure that they are notified as soon as their wallets have been hacked so they can begin to take steps to protect any other electronic data that may have been exposed as well as immediately start the process of repairing the damage caused by the hack.”

The Breach of Personal Information and Security Act was signed into law in 2005, but currently has no provisions for digital wallet hacks.

The legislation is now being circulated for co-sponsors and will be introduced soon.