The government should not unnecessarily collect or maintain personally identifiable information, OMB deputy management director Clay Johnson has said in a recent memo directing agencies to reduce the volume of this information to a minimum.
It also directs agencies to implement plans to eliminate the unnecessary use of Social Security numbers.
"Safeguarding personally identifiable information in the possession of the government and preventing its breach are essential to ensure the government retains the trust of the American public,” the memo said, adding, "This is a responsibility shared by officials accountable for administering operational and privacy and security programs, legal counsel, agencies’ inspectors general and other law enforcement, and public and legislative affairs.”
The memo calls on agencies to review and reduce current holdings of all personally identifiable information and ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, such holdings are accurate, relevant, timely, and complete.
It also calls on agencies to review the use of Social Security numbers and within 120 days establish a plan to eliminate the unnecessary collection and use of SSN within eighteen months; participate in government-wide efforts to explore alternate personal identifiers; protect federal information accessed remotely; and develop and implement an appropriate policy outlining the rules of behavior and identifying consequences and potential corrective actions for failure to follow these rules.
