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Privacy Office

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Delegation to the Chief Privacy Officer

This delegation vests the authorities of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in the Chief Privacy Officer and Chief Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Officer responsibilities.

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Outstanding Recommendations for Privacy Compliance Reviews

The DHS Privacy Office tracks implementation of PCR recommendations based on supporting evidence provided by the Component Privacy Office and/or Program reviewed. PCR recommendations that have yet to be implemented according to DHS Instruction 047-01-004 are listed here, and the list is updated periodically.

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SurveyMonkey

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) will use SurveyMonkey to create online surveys for external relations (communications/outreach/public dialogue).  DHS will also ​use SurveyMonkey to meet a mandate by the Federal CIO to provide customer satisfaction surveys on public-facing websites. DHS Office of Public Affairs (OPA) serves as the executive agent for the department’s use of SurveyMonkey and controls who at the Department has access to use the service.

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Privacy Compliance Review of FEMAs Information Sharing Practices

The DHS Privacy Office conducted a Privacy Compliance Review (PCR) of FEMA that focused on information sharing practices and oversight in response to two major privacy incidents that occurred during Fiscal Year 2019.  This PCR details six recommendations to improve FEMA’s implementation of information sharing and safeguarding activities that adequately protect individuals’ privacy.

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DPIAC Recommendations Report 2018-02 Immigration Statistics Data Dissemination Practices

On September 15, 2017, the DHS Chief Privacy Officer issued a tasking requesting that the DPIAC provide guidance on how best to disseminate statistical data from the Office of Immigration Statistics (OIS) in order to strengthen the Department’s ability to analyze the immigration enforcement and immigration benefits lifecycles, and provide real-time access to relevant immigration data needed to support operations, analysis, reporting, and strategic decision making. This integrated immigration data system will also support the Department’s ability to disseminate statistics and to permit public access to statistical information that will inform key stakeholders and promote transparency.

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PCR of the S & T Directorate

The DHS Privacy Office launched a Privacy Compliance Review (PCR) on July 27, 2018, under the Chief Privacy Officer’s authority in accordance with Section 222 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as a result of growing concerns that the DHS Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) privacy compliance process, particularly for those programs involving social media and volunteers, did not meet requirements under DHS policies.  The PCR reviewed DHS S&T’s privacy compliance and privacy practices from October 1, 2016, through July 28, 2018.

 

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Privacy Policy Instruction 047-01-010 SSN Collection and Use Reduction

This instruction mandates a reduction in the use of the SSN in DHS programs, systems, and forms.

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DPIAC Recommendations Report 2019 01

Report 2019-01 of the DHS Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee on Privacy Recommendations in Connection with the Use of Facial Recognition Technology.

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Social Security Number Fraud Prevention Act Report

In order to comply with the Act’s prohibition on the inclusion of a full Social Security number (SSN) in documents sent by mail, unless expressly identified as necessary by the Secretary, the DHS Privacy Office plans to implement a multi-phased effort to identify, inventory, analyze, and restructure the use of SSNs in mailed correspondence at the Department. This report describes that effort.

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FOIA Compliance Instruction 262-11-001: Employee Notification Instruction

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Compliance Instruction 262-11-001