Overview
Title
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The OPM is making a list of people who comment on its rules, which is like when kids write their thoughts on a school project. They'll keep this information safe but may share it with others, like when teachers share notes with other school staff.
Summary AI
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has announced a new system that collects information about individuals who submit public comments on OPM documents published in the Federal Register. This system, known as "OPM/Internal—29, Federal Register Comments," will store and manage comments and any personal information provided by the commenter. Public comments can be submitted via Regulations.gov, and these records are maintained in the Federal Docket Management System. OPM is committed to safeguarding this information and has detailed specific procedures for accessing and contesting records.
Abstract
In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposes to establish a new OPM system of records titled, "OPM/Internal--29, Federal Register Comments." This system of records contains information about individuals who submit a public comment (a comment and/or supplementary materials provided to OPM in response to an OPM publication in the Federal Register).
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has introduced a new system for gathering and managing public comments on documents they publish in the Federal Register. This initiative, titled "OPM/Internal—29, Federal Register Comments," aims to improve the agency's ability to handle public input effectively. Essentially, when OPM releases documents for public feedback, individuals can choose to submit their comments anonymously or with personal identifiers through the website Regulations.gov. The comments and additional information, if any, are preserved in the Federal Docket Management System, a governmental platform for such records.
General Summary
The newly established system records include information such as the name, contact details, and comments of individuals who choose to provide personal identifiers. The system primarily assists OPM in refining documents by addressing the feedback received. Additionally, the information gathered could be used to reach out to commentors for clarity or to facilitate other communication necessary for the rule-making process.
Significant Issues and Concerns
This document raises several concerns, especially regarding privacy and data security. Despite emphasizing efforts to protect personal data and ensuring compliance with federal standards, the extensive sharing of information with law enforcement, other government bodies, and different legal proceedings could pose privacy risks. The legal and procedural language used in the document may also present challenges, as the general public might find it difficult to understand the full scope and implications of the routine sharing of records. Furthermore, the policy regarding data retention could also raise eyebrows, as personal data might be kept longer than some privacy advocates might deem optimal.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, this new system underscores the importance of public involvement in governmental processes by providing a structured platform for feedback. While it enhances OPM’s ability to review and process public comments efficiently, it requires individuals to navigate complex procedures to manage their personal records. For those interested in participating in public commentary, the process may seem intimidating due to the legal language and detailed requirements involved in accessing or amending records.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For privacy-conscious commenters and advocates, the broad sharing of information and prolonged data retention periods might raise concerns. These stakeholders might question the adequacy of the system’s safeguards against unauthorized access or misuse. On the contrary, legal professionals and governmental entities may appreciate the system's detailed process for managing records, as well as its clear alignment with federal regulations.
In conclusion, while the establishment of this system represents a significant step towards streamlined public participation in the rule-making process, it also poses questions regarding privacy and data protection that will require careful scrutiny and balancing as the system develops.
Issues
• The document includes complex legal and procedural language which might be difficult for the general public to understand, particularly details regarding legal authorities and routine uses.
• The document describes extensive routine uses for sharing records which may raise privacy concerns, for instance, sharing with other federal agencies, law enforcement, and under certain legal proceedings, without clearly explaining all potential implications for individuals.
• There could be potential concerns about the security and protection of personal data, despite the assurance of safeguards, due to the broad range of disclosures allowed.
• The retention and disposal policies could potentially allow for prolonged storage of personal data, which might conflict with privacy best practices, although they are aligned with federal record-keeping requirements.
• Procedures for accessing or amending records are described in a detailed manner, but might still appear complex to individuals unfamiliar with FOIA or Privacy Act requests.