FR 2025-01462

The Federal Register notice submitted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as presented, is an announcement seeking public commentary on the extension of the 2013 Private Industry Feedback Survey. This initiative is managed by the FBI's Cyber Division and aims to collect insights from private sector partners regarding reports on cyber threats and trends. The goal is to gather feedback to better tailor these reports for effective communication and utility in the future. The survey is voluntary, with responses expected from about 5,000 participants.

General Summary

The document provides a structured invitation for public feedback concerning the continuation of a survey designed to improve FBI communications with private sector partners about cybersecurity challenges. The survey participants are expected to include private industry stakeholders who utilize the FBI's cyber-related reports. Each respondent is anticipated to spend about three minutes completing the survey annually, with the entire public data collection extended over a three-year period.

Significant Issues and Concerns

Several concerns arise from this notice. Firstly, the title, "2013 Private Industry Feedback Survey," could imply the use of outdated materials or an error in referencing the year, as the notice is dated 2025. This can cause confusion regarding the relevance and timeliness of the survey.

Secondly, the document does not specify any updates or changes from prior iterations of the survey, aside from an extension request, leading to ambiguity about its current applicability or improvements. Additionally, although the document describes the survey as voluntary, this could result in insufficient data collection, impacting the quality and representativeness of the conclusions derived from the survey results.

Moreover, specialized terms such as "PINs" (Private Industry Notifications) and "FLASHs" (FBI Liaison Alert System) are mentioned without explanation, potentially leaving the intended audience perplexed. An understanding of these terms is necessary for grasping the survey's significance.

Lastly, privacy concerns are not addressed explicitly, an essential consideration given the potentially sensitive nature of cybersecurity discussions. The assurance that no additional costs are incurred by respondents is listed without a clear justification, which may not account for indirect costs like the time invested in responding.

Impact on the Public and Specific Stakeholders

For the general public, the continuation of this survey reflects an ongoing effort by the FBI to effectively communicate and collaborate with private sector partners on cybersecurity topics. However, it poses questions about transparency and the efficacy of public involvement in shaping government data collection practices.

For specific stakeholders, mainly private sector companies involved in cybersecurity, the survey presents an opportunity to influence future FBI reports. This could enhance the relevance and utility of the FBI's communications, benefiting organizations that rely on such information for maintaining cybersecurity standards.

On the downside, if the concerns about outdated materials, privacy, and potential cost burdens aren't addressed, stakeholders might find the survey less beneficial. It might discourage participation, thus limiting the survey's effectiveness in achieving its core purpose of enhancing cyber threat communications.

Overall, this notice underscores the importance of clear communication, respondent privacy protection, and transparency in government processes that solicit public participation and feedback.

The document in question involves an information collection activity notice from the FBI's Cyber Division, focusing on the 2013 Private Industry Feedback Survey. A significant point of interest within the notice is the financial aspect related to the survey.

Financial References in the Document

The document specifies a total estimated annual other costs burden of $0. This means there are no direct costs anticipated in terms of executing the survey, aside from the time respondents invest in providing feedback. This reference is significant because it reflects the perception that all necessary resources for conducting and analyzing the survey data are already available without requiring additional financial outlay.

Relevance to Identified Issues

It's interesting to note this $0 cost burden in conjunction with the issues identified. First, clarity is lacking around whether the financial estimate has changed from previous iterations of this survey or whether circumstances in 2025 remain exactly as when the survey was first introduced. This is especially relevant since the document notes this is an extension of a previously approved collection. It raises questions about whether any adjustments were needed—or even considered—in advance, possibly impacting the methodology's reliability, including potential inadequacies in current data collection techniques.

Moreover, the significance of a $0 cost burden ties into concerns about privacy. While the financial reference does not explicitly address privacy protection for survey respondents, the assumption of no additional costs might ignore the indirect financial implications associated with safeguarding the sensitive nature of cyber-related feedback. Ensuring robust privacy protections might necessitate more advanced technological tools or security systems that inherently are not cost-free, potentially implicating hidden expenditures not discussed.

Finally, this zero-cost expectation may not have been entirely communicated with transparency, particularly if there are indirect or unforeseen costs related to downtime or the allocation of human resources from other duties to fulfill the survey evaluation. A deeper analysis or disclosure could enhance understanding and trust, particularly when private sector partners are involved and may incur their own informal costs, which are not explicitly quantified in this document.

Overall, the financial portrayal in the document appears limited to direct, out-of-pocket expenses and may benefit from a broader examination of indirect impacts or implications for stakeholders involved in processing or participating in the survey.