Which law provides the most basic statutory definition of "identity theft"?

The Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act is the law that provides the most fundamental statutory definition of "identity theft." This legislation was enacted in 1998 and explicitly defines identity theft as the act of knowingly transferring or using, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of federal law. This definition establishes the groundwork for identifying and addressing identity theft at the federal level, creating both a legal framework for prosecution and a foundation for consumer protection efforts.

The other options either focus on different aspects of consumer rights or privacy protections without providing a direct definition of identity theft. The Fair Credit Reporting Act, for instance, primarily governs the accuracy and privacy of information in consumer credit reports, while the Consumer Privacy Protection Act and the Identity Protection Act deal with broader privacy-related issues and do not specifically define identity theft in the same way. Therefore, the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act remains the most significant in establishing a clear definition related to identity theft, making it the correct choice in this context.