Congress Considers Bill to Protect Privacy of Cit

Congress Considers Bill to Protect Privacy of Citizens

Penalties Proposed for Negligent Uses of Federal Databases

Washington, DC - On July 29, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced to the
U.S. Congress the Citizens' Protection in Federal Databases Act (CPFDA), a
bill requiring federal agencies that collect personal information to report
what information they collect and how they intend to use the information.

The CPFDA bill would require federal agencies to report on accountability
mechanisms for federal agents who maliciously or negligently enter or
misuse personal information they gather and would forbid federal agencies
from conducting searches based on hypothetical scenarios or suppositions.

"The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) supports efforts to protect
privacy in the use of information by federal agencies," said EFF Washington
Policy Liaison Lisa Dean. "Increased national security also comes from
restrictions to ensure appropriate information gathering and measures to
protect personal information stored in federal databases."

Once passed, federal agencies would have to report to Congress before
obtaining funding for purchases of commercial databases. Within 60 days of
the bill's passage, the agencies would have to report to Congress on use of
existing databases.

In addition to EFF, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC),
Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), the American Civil Liberties
Union (ACLU), and the Free Congress Foundation have expressed support for
the CPFDA legislation.