A typical corporate data security policy classifies consumer contact information as confidential, but not “highly confidential” or “sensitive.”  Should mere contact information be afforded greater protection?

One case on point has dragged on since late 2007, when Ameritrade reported that a database of its customers’ contact information (including names, physical addresses, email addresses and phone numbers) had been compromised. A class action law suit quickly followed, and the third settlement attempt was rejected just recently by the court on the grounds that, in the judge’s view, it provided an inadequate remedy for the affected consumers.