The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) practice of openly sharing sensitive data about immigrants with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has sparked concerns about privacy and government surveillance. According to a report by WIRED, the SSA updated a public notice to officially disclose the sharing of ‘citizenship and immigration information’ with DHS, a practice that had already been ongoing for months.
Under the Privacy Act of 1974, agencies are required to issue system of record notices (SORNs) before sharing data between agencies, allowing for public scrutiny and input. However, in this case, data from various government sources, including DHS, SSA, IRS, and state voter data, was being consolidated without prior public disclosure.
Adam Schwartz, privacy litigation director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, highlighted the legal implications of such data sharing, emphasizing the importance of government transparency and adherence to privacy laws. The data aggregation efforts have raised concerns about the potential misuse of sensitive information and the circumvention of established protocols.
This development underscores the need for increased oversight and accountability in data sharing practices between government agencies. As technology continues to play a pivotal role in information exchange and surveillance, ensuring the protection of individual privacy rights remains a critical priority for both policymakers and the public.
Source: WIRED