PRIVACY ACT EXEMPTIONS presented by Samuel P. Jenkins, Director, for Privacy Defense Privacy and Civil Liberties Office (DPCLO) May 2010.

PRIVACY ACT EXEMPTIONS

presented by

Samuel P. Jenkins,

Director, for PrivacyDefense Privacy and Civil Liberties Office (DPCLO)

May 2010

Types of Exemptions Allowed for Systems of Records

Exemptions are broken into three categories:

• Access Exemptions, covered under Subsection (d)(5)

• General Exemptions, covered under Subsection (j)

• Specific Exemptions, covered under Subsection (k)

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Systems of Records Exempted from the Access Provisions of the Privacy

Act

An Agency may exempt a system of records from specified exemptions of the Act, all having to do with how an individual gets information about his records including:

• Accounting to the individual (c)(3), • Accuracy of records (d), (e)(1), • Advising individual of existence of record pertaining to

him or her (e)(4)(G), • Advising individual of how to gain access/amendment

(e)(4)(H), • Sources of records, (e)(4)(I) and • Agency rules (f)

3Privacy Act Exemptions

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Access Exemption

Exemption (d)(5):

o Information compiled in reasonable anticipation of civil action or proceeding; self-executing exemption

General Exemptions

Systems of Records under General Exemptions may opt out of all Privacy Act access requirements.

• General Exemptions intend to protect specific investigations or authorized activities by law enforcement agencies or the CIA.

• In these cases, knowledge that a record about an individual is kept may alone disrupt the investigation or activity.

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Systems of Records Exempted from the Access Provisions of the Privacy

Act

Exemption (j)(1):

o Records maintained by the Central Intelligence Agency

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Systems of Records Exempted from the Access Provisions of the Privacy

Act

Exemption (j)(2):

o Records maintained by an agency which performs as its principal function any activity pertaining to the enforcement of criminal laws

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Specific Exemptions

Specific Exemptions are more narrow in scope, and intended to preserve the integrity of a process.

• Protect confidential sources

• Preserve testing and evaluation practices

• Maintain accountability and anonymity in statistical research.

• Protect classified information which is essential to an agency’s function.

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Systems of Records Exempted from the Access Provisions of the Privacy

Act

Exemption (k)(1):

o Classified information under an Executive Order in the interest of national defense or foreign policy.

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Systems of Records Exempted from the Access Provisions of the Privacy

Act

Exemption (k)(2):

o Non-criminal law enforcement records; criminal law enforcement records compiled by non-principal function criminal law enforcement agency; coverage is less broad where individual has been denied a right, privilege, or benefit as result of information sought.

Systems of Records Exempted from the Access Provisions of the Privacy

Act

Exemption (k)(3):

o Pertain to the provision of protective services to the President of the United States or other individual pursuant to section 3056 of Title 18.

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Systems of Records Exempted from the Access Provisions of the Privacy

Act

Exemption (k)(4):

o Required by statute to be maintained and used solely as statistical records.

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Systems of Records Exempted from the Access Provisions of the Privacy

Act

Exemption (k)(5):

o Investigatory material used only to determine suitability, eligibility, or qualifications for federal civilian employment or access to classified information when the material comes from confidential sources.

Systems of Records Exempted from the Access Provisions of the Privacy

Act

Exemption (k)(6):

o Testing or examination material used to determine appointment or promotion of federal employees when disclosure would compromise the objectivity or fairness of the process.

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Systems of Records Exempted from the Access Provisions of the Privacy

Act

Exemption (k)(7):

o Evaluation material used to identify potential for promotion in the Armed Services but only to the extent disclosure would reveal a confidential source who provided the info under an express promise of confidentiality.

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Resources1. Privacy Act of 19742. Federal Register July 9, 1975 Privacy Act

Implementation-Guidelines and Responsibilities3. DOJ Overview of the Privacy Act of 1974, 2004

edition 4. OMB Circular A-1305. Various OMB Memoranda6. Section 208 – E-Gov Act7. Federal Acquisition Regulations