InfoBytes Blog
CFPB publishes final rule relating to disclosure of confidential records and information
On September 12, the CFPB published a final rule to modify its procedures for the disclosure of records and information. As previously covered in InfoBytes, the notice of proposed rulemaking—published August 2016—sought to amend procedures used to obtain information from the Bureau under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Privacy Act of 1974, and in legal proceedings. In response to comments on its proposal, the final rule revises the following subparts under section 1070 of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations: (i) Subpart A: “procedures related to the certification of authenticity of Bureau records and the service of summonses or complaints on the Bureau”; (ii) Subpart B: practices to provide requesters additional flexibility under FOIA; and (iii) Subpart C: “procedures for requests for information from the Bureau in connection with legal proceedings.” Subpart E, which implements the Privacy Act of 1974, received no comments and has been finalized without modification. The Bureau noted that the final rule does not revise Subpart D, which relates to the “confidential treatment of information obtained from persons in connection with the exercise of its authorities under federal consumer financial law.” The final rule takes effect October 12.