ChoicePoint was further accused of making false and misleading statements about its privacy policies. ChoicePoint agreed to settle these charges for $15m without admitting any wrongdoing. "The message to ChoicePoint and others should be clear: Consumers' private data must be protected from thieves," FTC chairman Deborah Platt Majoras said. "Data security is critical to consumers, and protecting it is a priority for the FTC, as it should be to every business in America." ChoicePoint's shares closed $3.35 (or 7 per cent) down at $29.95 on news of the FTC settlement on Thursday. ®