Recently, numerous regulators have engaged on the issue of Big Data and Fintech. FIntech is the name for the growing economic sector where Silicon Valley firms are offering different financial products developed using "tech." Regulators have held workshops and issued white papers and requests for information. Recently, the chief national bank regulator, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), provided an outline of a proposed limited-purpose FinTech charter under the National Bank Act that consumer groups and state regulators contend will preempt strong state consumer protections, undercut existing federal laws and precipitate a race to the bottom. 

So, in December 2016, we brought 45 consumer, civil rights, community and small business advocates together to discuss the implications of the growing Fintech sector, its relationship to the existing financial sector and the OCC's proposal and to talk about what advocates should do going forward. We anticipate a series of ongoing convenings to be held with these and other stakeholders.

Some outputs:

PIRG/Center for Digital Democracy backgrounder on Big Data and Fintech.

Detailed comments of 49 groups including U.S. PIRG in opposition to the OCC proposal

Comments of 250 groups including state PIRGs in opposition to the OCC proposal.

We will be adding more resources to this page, including:

Jeff Chester of the Center for Digital Democracy's powerpoint Networks of Control from the event.

Professor Joe Turow's powerpoint (Annandale School of Communication, University of Pennsylvania).

Go to the Home Page of the U.S. PIRG Digital Data and Consumer Protection Project.

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