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CPSR Signs EPIC's Comments Opposing DHS Database Exemptions

CPSR is one of more than 40 organizations signing comments in opposition to the proposed privacy exemptions for a new Homeland Security database. The exemptions would waive the legal requirements designed to protect individual privacy, promote government accountability and provide legislative oversight over government collection of data. The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) extensive new database, The Homeland Security Operations Center Database, is to be exempt from section (g) of the Privacy Act of 1974, which would deny individuals the right to make certain that information maintained by the agency is correct. In addition, individuals will be denied judicial review of DHS's determinations.

The Department of Homeland Security is also seeking to exempt the database from the fundamental Privacy Act requirement that an agency "maintain in its records only such information about an individual as is relevant and necessary" to accomplish a stated purpose as required by Congress or the President. This gives DHS almost unlimited freedom to track and profile American citizens, without accountability. For these reasons Computer Professionals For Social Responsibility opposes the currently proposed Privacy Act notice and joins the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and over 40 other organization in urging DHS to:

"revise its Privacy Act notice for the Homeland Security Operations Center Database system to 1) provide individuals judicially enforceable rights of access and correction; 2) limit the collection of information to only that which is necessary and relevant; and 3) give U.S. and non-U.S. citizens rights in their information maintained in the database."

From the Comments of Privacy Groups: Notice of proposed rulemaking: Privacy Act of 1974: Implementation of Exemptions: The Homeland Security Operations Center Database http://epic.org/privacy/homeland/dhs_hsocd_final.pdf

For more information see EPIC's home page http://www.epic.org/

Created by lsmithlas
Last modified May 23, 2005 06:48 PM