FTC's 50th Data Security Settlement Sends a Message: Be Careful with Overseas Contractors

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent a message about the importance of imposing appropriate security measures on—and monitoring—vendors with access to confidential consumer information. The FTC issued a 20-year consent order with GMR Transcription Services (GMR) over its overseas contractor’s data security breach. The decision marks the FTC’s 50th information security settlement and fifth health information complaint (four of which have settled). For health care providers and business associates, the GMR settlement suggests that the FTC has higher expectations than HHS regarding management and oversight of vendors and other downstream subcontractors, especially when these vendors are outside of U.S. jurisdiction. The GMR settlement did not involve security failures by GMR itself, but by a subcontractor, Fedtrans.