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Release of Personal Information on the Internet
MEMORANDUM
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SUBJECT:
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Release of Personal Information on the Internet
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FROM:
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Alvin M. Pesachowitz,
Chief Information Officer and Senior Official for Privacy Policy |
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TO:
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Office Directors
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This Agency has made great strides in recent years to increase the amount of information available to the public via the Internet, significantly reducing the number of Freedom of Information Act requests this Agency receives. At the same time, we have taken steps to protect the privacy of our users and to allow information to be retrieved by private citizens without documenting their use. We posted a notice of use and a privacy statement on our Internet site in June 1998. These statements, available at http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/usenotice.htm, speak for the entire Agency Internet site regarding how personal identifying information is received and used from Internet users.
In recent days, we have become aware that some Offices within the Agency are exploring the release of personal identifying information on the Agency Internet site as a method of sharing requests and responses to correspondence. While I agree that sharing information in a question and answer format is desirable for our users, I see no need to release information about the requestor to meet this need. I am asking that your offices immediately cease the publication of such information and, as the approving officials of Internet content within your individual offices, you refrain from approving such contents on your Web sites until further notice, allowing the Agency adequate time to determine the impacts.
As the Agency's Senior Official for Privacy Policy, I am concerned about the perceived violation of individual privacy rights that may occur through such actions. I am also concerned that such a release may jeopardize the rights and protections being sought for children on the Internet and will be working with the Federal Trade Commission to document any necessary protection to that effect.
If you have any questions about the issues that are raised when releasing personal information through any means, please contact Rachel Van Wingen of my staff at vanwingen.rachel@epa.gov or at 202-260-9709. (updated 2/15/07 - Jonda Byrd, 513-569-7183, byrd.jonda@epa.gov) Rachel will be working with the Information Resources Management, Policy, Planning and Evaluation Division as well as components of the Office of General Counsel to address these concerns and provide guidance to Internet data providers at our annual Web World Conference in early December.
