[IP] EPIC FOIA Notes

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

THE DISCLOSURE
Formerly secret documents obtained by EPIC from the FBI
reveal Choicepoint's proposed "Partnership for the New Millennium."  The
file includes a survey Choicepoint prepared on an extraordinary  range of
data sources, including e-mail registration, employment  and drug screening
reports, driving  records, professional licensing, SSNs,  phone records, and
calling card data. One memo  discussed the availability of information on
Europeans, Latin Americans,  Asians, and Africans.


THE ISSUE
Choicepoint's
sale of personal information to the FBI.

THE BACKGROUND
The Privacy Act of
1974 prevented federal agencies, including the  FBI,  from creating secret
profiles on American citizens. According to  the  law, agencies need a valid
purpose to collect information. Government  agencies must also ensure
fairness, accuracy, and openness. But  commercial data brokers, such as
Choicepoint, are now selling personal  data to the government that sidesteps
these requirements.


THE SIGNIFICANCE
Law enforcement agencies are
exploiting a loophole in federal privacy  law. The documents obtained by
EPIC make clear the need to fix the  Privacy Act. When the private sector
collects personal information  for  the government, Privacy Act safeguards
should apply.
<http://www.epic.org/foia_notes/note2.html>


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