Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that a coalition of 50 attorneys general reached a data breach settlement with Equifax, resolving an investigation into a data breach first disclosed by the company in September 2017. The breach exposed the personal information of nearly half the U.S. population, including 12.1 million Texans. The $600 million settlement with the attorneys general of 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico requires Equifax to implement and maintain a rigorous and comprehensive data security program designed to prevent future breaches. Under the agreement, Equifax must also pay between $300 million and $425 million into a consumer restitution settlement fund for the benefit of consumers whose information was exposed in the breach. Equifax will pay $175 million to the 50 attorneys general. Texas will collect $10.9 million for penalties, fees and costs. More details about the settlement can be found at the AG’s website here and the final judgment here.
