Red flags rule delayed again.

• Position: LEGISLATION - United States. Federal Trade Commission - Brief article

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has yet again delayed enforcement of its Red Flags rule, marking at least the fifth delay since the FTC introduced the rule in November 2007.

The Red Flags rule requires businesses and organizations that handle consumers' personal data to create written plans and policies to prevent and detect consumer identity theft. The rule is a section of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003, a federal law that requires the establishment of guidelines for financial institutions and creditors regarding identity theft.

Since the rule was announced three years ago, small businesses and lawmakers have complained that compliance would be too costly and...