Perhaps no other condition is more important between a government and its citizens than trust. That trust is earned through consistently being open and honest—in short, being transparent. Indeed, the government’s work in the privacy field is especially built upon a foundation of transparency.

That’s why I’m pleased to announce that the Department of Homeland Security Privacy Office recently issued its third Annual Report covering July 2006 through July 2007. This report is the centerpiece of our transparency obligation and summarizes how DHS protects the privacy of personally identifiable information.

During this past reporting cycle, my staff and I made significant progress in our development of privacy resources and outreach within the department, as well as externally to other agencies, privacy advocates, and international data protection officials.

As the DHS Chief Privacy Officer, I have worked to build upon the strong privacy foundation established by my predecessor. My focus has been to formalize the processes and operations of this important office to ensure that we can fulfill our statutory requirements and support the Department’s vital mission.

Among our recent accomplishments, we’ve continued to increase internal DHS privacy compliance. Some of our efforts include conducting Privacy Threshold Analyses, Privacy Impact Assessments, and Privacy Act System of Records Notices. We also updated and disseminated our popular DHS Privacy Impact Assessment Guidance for 2007 and conducting tutorial workshops to train federal employees and contractors on the development and use of PIAs.

In response to growing federal attention to privacy issues, DHS has been a leader in issuing specific privacy guidance. We developed privacy documents regarding the use of Social Security numbers, protections afforded to non-U.S. persons, and a privacy incident response plan for the department. Additionally, we’ve implemented an inventory process aimed at reducing the use of social security numbers within the Department.

We are also working closely with our colleagues to ensure that privacy protections are integrated into DHS programs and rulemakings. Through our efforts to increase the transparency of high-profile department initiatives, we have participated in the rulemaking process, and actively sought to address privacy concerns raised by Congress, the privacy community, and the public. In addition, we continue to work with our international partners, expanding both our international outreach, as well as DHS and Federal involvement in international privacy initiatives.

Looking ahead, we see our next Annual Reporting cycle as a period of significant opportunity for the department to expand the presence of Privacy Officers and Privacy Points of Contact within DHS operational components. Our Disclosure and Freedom of Information practice will continue to substantially reduce Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request backlogs in components and improve the efficiency of the Department’s FOIA process. I encourage you to read our report (PDF).

Our work is far from over, but my dedicated team of privacy professionals is up to the challenge of working in a global environment where appropriate privacy protections are critical to fulfilling the Department’s mission.

Hugo Teufel
Chief Privacy Officer