http://www.gcn.com/online/vol1_no1/42852-1.html 

By Alice Lipowicz
Contributing Writer
01/02/07

A new records system is being designed to allow the Homeland Security 
Department to monitor the names, passwords, citizenship information and 
other data on thousands of IT workers with access to the departments 
systems.

In a notice posted Dec. 29, DHS announced it is creating a new 
sensitive, but unclassified, database as part of its General Information 
Technology Access Account Records System. The department made the notice 
to comply with the Privacy Act of 1974, which regulates how the 
government collects and uses personal information.

The new database will collect personal information from IT employees, 
contractors, grantees and others, including people who serve on DHS 
advisory committees or are listed as points of contact for facilities.

The system will include names, user names, citizenship, business 
affiliation, contact information and passwords. It also will include 
home addresses, e-mail addresses, and names and phone numbers of people 
listed as contacts.

The information will be routinely used by DHS contractors and 
consultants, facility operators, congressional offices, National 
Archives, Justice Department or other federal agencies conducting 
litigations or proceedings involving DHS.

The National Archives will access the database pursuant to records 
management inspections and there will be no disclosure to consumer 
reporting agencies, the notice stated. DHS plans to destroy the records 
six years after the user account becomes inactive, or when no longer 
needed for investigative or security purposes.

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Alice Lipowicz is a staff writer for Government Computer News affiliate 
publication, Washington Technology.


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