FINRA backs off collecting personal data in CARDS plan

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority announced Tuesday that it will not collect sensitive personally identifying information from the data the self-regulator is to receive from its new Comprehensive Automated Risk Data System (CARDS).

FINRA stated that after considering the written comments on the CARDS concept proposal and the views expressed discussions with industry participants regarding investor privacy, the regulator “has concluded that the CARDS proposal will not require the submission of information that would identify to FINRA the individual account owner, particularly account name, account address or tax identification number.”

Dale Brown, president and CEO of the Financial Services Institute (FSI), said that while he applauded FINRA’s decision to not collect sensitive data, FSI still has some concerns about the CARDS plan. “Today, FINRA took an important step forward in their CARDS proposal, by announcing they will not collect sensitive personally identifying information from the data they plan to receive,” Brown said. “While we still have concerns with data security, costs and other unintended consequences of the proposal, we applaud FINRA’s response to industry concerns. We will continue to work with them as this proposal is considered.”