You are here
Home >Big Data and Fintech Resources

New fintech firms are competing with banks to offer a variety of financial services. Some use Big Data algorithms and scores based not only on traditional financial information but often also on information collected from social media tracking, your educational background or even shopping habits. These processes may be non-transparent or even secret and are often of questionable validity in determining your qualifications for credit or a job.
Archive from Big Data Event 6 December 2016
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Issue updates
In response to a tidal wave of unfair marketplace practices, the CFPB asked the public to submit comments on the impact of junk fees on their lives. Some 2,500 comments later, consumers have described the pain points caused by unfair junk fees.
Cover graphic courtesy Student Borrower Protection Center, used by permission
Today, in response to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) request for information (RFI) on harmful “junk fees,” the Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC) and the U.S. PIRG Education Fund submitted comments exposing how financial service giants and universities are plaguing postsecondary students with unexpected, unavoidable, and hugely expensive charges on a range of financial products.
Report on issues with "Buy Now, Pay Later" financing plans.
Even with the knowledge I’ve gained working as a consumer advocate for several years, getting my finances in order has been a work in progress.
Support us
Your tax-deductible donation supports U.S. PIRG Education Fund’s work to educate consumers on the issues that matter, and the powerful interests that are blocking progress.
Learn More
You can also support U.S. PIRG Education Fund’s work through bequests, contributions from life insurance or retirement plans, securities contributions and vehicle donations.