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What's happening in the federal IT community
By Friday, March 21, 2008 | 10:15 AM
Revelations today that contractors at the State Department read Barack Obama's passport history with no authorization in possible violation of the Privacy Act come as no great shock to the privacy community.
In fact, the only reason that this serious breach was caught was because of the high visibility of the victim. Contractors who decide to look up old girlfriends, or worse, regularly use the information for stalking may never be caught, as we have seen in other agencies that do a slightly better job of privacy control.
My organization has expressed concern about the State Department's privacy program frequently over the past two years. They simply do not have the resources to do an effective job. It seems that the goal is to meet the obviously low standard of "satisfactory" in the annual FISMA report.
If State is "satisfactory" today, think how bad things must be at the Defense Department, the only department to receive a "failing" rating on their privacy impact assessment implementation according to the inspectors general.
Comments
It's a shame that the government doesn't recruit employees who have previously held high level clearances with a clear record of non-disclosure, and a clear record of not meddling where they don't belong. How about announcing some positions of trust as training opportunities for those who have proven they are trustworthy? No, instead, the "good ole boy" network hires golfing buddies, smoking buddies, relatives of friends, etc., instead of searching their archives and hiring older employees who take pride in their conduct and don't look at things that don't concern them; and who do not disclose info that they have had a need to know...! I know how to mind my own business, how to keep my mouth shut, and do not need to impress goofy people with what I used to have access to; and my family respects me for it and doesn't ask questions! 'Ya get what you pay for!
CJ | Monday, March 24, 2008 | 1:26 PMClearly such info is at the fingertips of all gov. workers. I know, I was one once. Nothing new. Workers sign papers swearing not to reveal or discuss citizen's info, but since the gov. is now meddling in citizen's private lives now, turn-about is only fair. Being a public figure, leaders have a little less right to their privacy than does the average citizen. It's what the worker does with the info that counts.
Nancy | Sunday, March 23, 2008 | 8:07 PMThe New York Times now is reporting that Hillary Clinton's and John McCain's passport records also were breached.
Anne Laurent | Friday, March 21, 2008 | 12:51 PM