DHS office describes how it assesses privacy
The Homeland Security Department’s privacy office has released a policy
guidance document that explains the principles the office uses to
assess the privacy effects of DHS programs.
DHS’ privacy office
released a memorandum Dec. 29 that laid out eight fair information
practice principles (FIPPs) that it said constitute the foundation for
the department's privacy policy development and implementation. That
office said it has already been using FIPPs in its privacy notices and
assessments.
“They are the things that we use when evaluate
the privacy impact of any information system, any program of any
activity,” said Hugo Teufel, DHS’ chief privacy officer.
FIPPs,
used to assess the effects of systems, processes and programs on
individual privacy, are central to the 1974 Privacy Act, and variations
of the principles are reflected in international privacy protection
frameworks, as well as state-level and national legislation, the memo
said.
The memo describes how the privacy office applies the
principles specifically to DHS programs. The incoming Obama
administration will appoint a new chief privacy officer there.
The FIPPS said in the memo that DHS should:
•
Be transparent and provide notice to the individuals regarding
collection and use of personally identifiable information (PII).
•
When possible, seek consent from individuals to use their PII and
provide access, correction and redress regarding DHS’ use of PII.
• Explain the authority that permits DHS to collect PII and the ways it will be used.
• Only collect PII that is necessary to accomplish the specific purpose and keep it only as long as necessary.
•
Use PII only for the purpose specified in the notice. Limit sharing of
PII outside the department to purposes that are compatible with the
reasons that PII was collected.
• Ensure, as much as possible, that data is accurate, relevant, timely and complete.
• Protect PII with appropriate security.
•
Be held accountable for complying with the principles and provide
training for all employees and contractors who use PII and perform
audits.
About the Author
Ben Bain is a reporter for Federal Computer Week.