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DHS Privacy Office - Reports and Statements

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DHS Privacy Policy Guidance

  • DHS Action Memorandum Review of Safeguarding Policies and Procedures for Personnel-Related Data, June 13, 2007 with attachments. (PDF, 10 pages - 118 KB)
    • Attachment 1: Review of Personnel-Related Data Policies and Procedures and Self-Assessment (PDF, 13 pages - 113 KB)
    • Attachment 2: Protecting & Handling Personnel-Related Data – Quick Reference Guide (PDF, 2 pages – 14 KB)
    • Attachment 3: Verification and Confirmation Memorandum Templates (Self-Assessment and Training Certifications), (PDF, 2 pages – 17 KB)
    • Attachment 4: DHS Employee Communication from Scott Charbo and Maureen Cooney regarding Data Security and Privacy, June 8, 2006 (PDF, 2 pages – 294KB)
    • Attachment 5: DHS Deputy Secretary Memo, April 26, 2007 regarding Advance Notice to Leadership on Unintentional Release of Privacy Act Protected Information
    • Attachment 6: OMB Memorandum 07-16, Safeguarding Against and Responding to the Breach of Personally Identifiable Information, May 22, 2007 (PDF, 22 pages – 228 KB)
  • Privacy Policy Guidance Memorandum 2007-02 Regarding Use of Social Security Numbers at the Department of Homeland Security, June 4, 2007 (PDF, 4 pages - 118 KB)
  • Privacy Policy Guidance Memorandum 2007-01 Regarding Collection, Use, Retention, and Dissemination of Information on Non-U.S. Persons, January 19, 2007 (PDF, 5 pages - 116 KB)
  • Privacy Technology Implementation Guide (PTIG), August 2007 (PDF, 36 pages – 358 KB) The Privacy Office developed a new general guide for technology managers and developers to integrate privacy protections into operational IT systems. This new guide, the Privacy Technology Implementation Guide (PTIG) combines elements of privacy protection from disparate privacy compliance requirements, as well as a administrative policies and procedures into a single document, contextualized for managers and developers of operational systems. The PTIG is designed to allow each Component the flexibility to adapt privacy considerations to the way that Component does business while retaining a common DHS approach. The result is a new guide that provides early awareness of privacy issues and the aspects of systems that can be managed and developed to address privacy issues and streamline the process of complying with existing privacy protection requirements.
  • Privacy Incident Handling Guidance (PIHG), September 2007 (PDF, 109 pages – 4.25 MB) The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a duty to safeguard personally identifiable information (PII) in its possession and to prevent the breach of PII in order to maintain the public’s trust. The Privacy Incident Handling Guidance (PIHG) serves this purpose by informing DHS organizations, employees, senior officials, and contractors of their obligation to protect PII and by establishing procedures delineating how they must respond to the potential loss or compromise of PII.

Privacy Office Annual Reports

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Reports

Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act (FOIA/PA) Reports for the Department of the Homeland Security.

Section 803 Reports

In support of Section 803 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, The Privacy Officer will submit a report covering all privacy protection activities of the Department.

DHS Datamining Reports

  • 2008 Data Mining Letter Report (PDF, 46 pages - 441 KB). This is the third report by the Privacy Office to Congress on data mining. This letter report identifies the data mining activities deployed or under development within DHS, as defined by the Data Mining Reporting Act, and describes the framework the Department will use to report on such activities in the future pursuant to Section 804 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007,1 entitled, “The Federal Agency Data Mining Reporting Act of 2007” (Data Mining Reporting Act).
  • 2007 Data Mining Report PDF, 42 pages - 446 KB). This is the second report by the Privacy Office to Congress on data mining. This report describes data mining activities deployed or under development within the Department that meet the definition of data mining as mandated in House Report No. 109-699 - Making Appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2007, and for Other Purposes.
  • 2006 Data Mining Report, July 6, 2006 (PDF, 36 pages - 340 KB). This report is prepared pursuant to the requirements of "House Report 108-774 - Making Appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2005, and for Other Purposes." This report provides information related to the status, issues, and programs related to DHS data mining activities.

Other Homeland Security Privacy Reports

The following are public Reports issued by the DHS Privacy Office:

Homeland Security Component Privacy Statements

The following are official Privacy Statements of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

  • US-VISIT Program Privacy Policy. September 14, 2004 (PDF, 5 pages - 150 KB). The United States Visitor Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) is a United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program that enhances the country's entry and exit system. It enables the United States to record the entry into and exit out of the United States of foreign nationals requiring a visa to travel to the U.S., creates a secure travel record, and confirms their compliance with the terms of their admission. The US-VISIT initiative involves collecting biographic and travel information and biometric identifiers (fingerprints and a digital photograph) from covered individuals to assist border officers in making admissibility decisions. The identity of covered individuals will be verified upon their arrival and departure.
  • Passenger Name Record Data for Flights Between the U.S. and E.U. (PDF, 3 pages - 142 KB). United States law requires airlines operating flights to or from the United States to provide the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), with certain passenger reservation information ("passenger name record data" or PNR) for purposes of preventing and combating terrorism, and other serious criminal offences, that are transnational in nature. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 5 pages - 27 KB) are available for your convenience.

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This page was last reviewed/modified on August 15, 2008.