Watching the Watchers: The Coordination of Federal Privacy Policy. Number 5.

Policy Options Project, Benton Foundation, 1776 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006 ($6.50 per single copy, $33.00 for boxed set of eight papers).

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Access to Information; Agency Role; Disclosure; Foreign Countries; Futures (of Society); Information Dissemination; Information Technology; Information Utilization; Policy Formation; Privacy; Program Descriptions; Public Policy

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act 1974; Privacy Act 1974

In this policy briefing, the technological developments of recent years are linked to the erosion of individuals' informational privacy under the press of bureaucratic efficiency and the ever-growing needs of executive agencies for more information. It is noted that privacy protection within federal agencies may entail costs, and therefore, may be viewed as a constraint upon or impediment to the agency's mission. Discussion of these considerations points out that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is not likely to actively enforce privacy constraints because its purpose is to pursue cost reduction. It also indicates that data subjects themselves are largely unaware of potential privacy threats posed by information and technology practices, and that they have not organized into a constituency to focus on the issue. It is concluded that the Privacy Act of 1974 has not accomplished its mission, and that there is no existing device to adequately deal with privacy matters. It is proposed that Congress establish an independent agency charged with the responsibility of protecting federal information privacy. Related constitutional issues are raised, the general contours of an effective privacy protection mechanism are explored, and the makeup of data protection agencies in Canada, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom are briefly reviewed. (SD)

1991

ED324012