Notice2022-08566
Privacy Act; System of Records
Primary source
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Published
April 22, 2022
Issuing agencies
Postal Service
Abstract
The United States Postal Service[supreg] (USPS[supreg]) is responding to public comments regarding revisions to a General Privacy Act Systems of Records (SOR). These revisions were made to support an initiative sponsored by the United States Postal Inspection Service[supreg] (USPIS[supreg]) to conduct link analysis for investigative purposes. There will be no changes to the system of records or the effective date of January 18, 2022, in light of public comments received.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 78 (Friday, April 22, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 78 (Friday, April 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24207-24208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08566]
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POSTAL SERVICE
Privacy Act; System of Records
AGENCY: Postal Service[supreg].
ACTION: Notice of a modified system of records; response to comments.
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SUMMARY: The United States Postal Service[supreg] (USPS[supreg]) is
responding to public comments regarding revisions to a General Privacy
Act Systems of Records (SOR). These revisions were made to support an
initiative sponsored by the United States Postal Inspection
Service[supreg] (USPIS[supreg]) to conduct link analysis for
investigative purposes. There will be no changes to the system of
records or the effective date of January 18, 2022, in light of public
comments received.
DATES: The revisions to USPS SOR 700.000, Inspection Service
Investigative File System, Document Citation 86 FR 71679, were
originally scheduled to be effective on January 18, 2022, without
further notice. After review and evaluation of comments received, the
Postal Service has found that no substantive changes to the system of
records are required, and that the effective date for the
implementation of the proposed revisions should proceed as scheduled.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janine Castorina, Chief Privacy and
Records Management Officer, Privacy and Records Management Office, 202-
268-3069 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b5c5c7dcc3d4d6ccf5c0c6c5c69bd2dac3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a0d0d2c9d6c1c3d9e0d5d3d0d38ec7cfd6">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 17, 2021, the Postal Service
published notice of its intent to modify an existing system of records,
USPS SOR 700.000, Inspection Service Investigative File System, to
support the USPIS sponsored initiative to conduct link analysis for
investigative purposes.
The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is focused on
continuous improvement in the effort to stay one-step ahead of bad
actors and to preserve the sanctity of the mail. To further this
objective, USPIS is implementing a process to conduct a link analysis
across multiple disparate Postal systems to aggregate data and increase
efficiency. This process will automate the analysis process in part,
reducing manual effort by Postal Inspectors and Inspection Service
analysts.
The Postal Service provides the following responses to the comments
received pursuant to its Federal Register notice 86 FR 71679, regarding
proposed modifications to USPS SOR 700.000, Inspection Service
Investigative File System.
1. Question 1: \1\ The Inspection Service's (USPIS) System of
Record adjustments allowing for the to conduct link analysis for I
1nvestigative purposes is outside of USPIS's jurisdiction.
Answer: Leveraging new technology to link data and more effectively
process investigative data is well within the authority of the United
States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Title 18 U.S.C. 3061
specifically grants USPIS the authority to investigate criminal matters
related to the Postal Service, its products, services, infrastructure,
employees, and the mail. The powers granted in this section are put
into effect in the enforcement of laws regarding property in the
custody of the Postal Service, property of the Postal Service, the use
of the mails and other postal offenses. With respect to such property,
Postal Inspectors are empowered to conduct investigations, on and off
the property in question, of offenses that may have been committed
against property owned or occupied by the Postal Service or persons on
the property. Processing data more effectively, falls squarely within
USPIS's authority.
2. Question 2: \2\ The Inspection Service's (USPIS) System of
Record adjustments allowing for the to conduct link analysis for
investigative purposes will allow USPIS to conduct surveillance on
customers.
Answer: Law enforcement agencies have an increased need to manage
data in a more secure, efficient, and effective manner, while remaining
true to necessary legal and regulatory requirements. The USPIS will
utilize a flexible, investigative intelligence platform that uses a
data model to drive the discovery of associated data. Such a platform
would fuse previously disconnected paradigms such as business
intelligence, dashboard, link analysis, content search, and operational
monitoring, across USPIS's network. Streamlining investigative and
analytical procedures is not surveillance.
3. Question 3: \3\ The Inspection Service's (USPIS) System of
Record adjustments allowing for the to conduct link analysis for
investigative purposes increases access and therefore privacy risk.
Answer: Law enforcement agencies have an increased need to manage
data in a more secure, efficient, and effective manner, while remaining
true to necessary legal and regulatory requirements. Streamlining
investigative and analytical procedures does not increase access to
data. However, should USPIS decide to increase access to data, such a
decision falls within USPIS's clear mandate to investigate criminal
matters related to the Postal Service, its products, services,
infrastructure, employees, and the mail. Regardless, USPIS implements
information security standards in accordance with the USPS Chief
Information Security Office and applies increased security controls
where necessary. USPIS takes its responsibility to safeguard its
investigative data seriously and takes significant measures to protect
such data.
Footnotes
\1\ In response to implied question contained in comments
submitted by The Electronic Privacy Information Center, Section II,
[[Page 24208]]
entitled ``The Postal Inspection Service is at serious risk of
mission creep when the agency expands information collection and
investigations beyond traditional postal crimes.''
\2\ In response to implied question contained in comments
submitted by The Electronic Privacy Information Center, Section III,
entitled ``The Postal Inspection Service is seeking to expand its
system of records to include data from USPS customers who have done
nothing to warrant law enforcement surveillance.''
\3\ In response to implied question contained in comments
submitted by The Electronic Privacy Information Center, Section IV,
entitled ``Increased access to customer data poses privacy risks for
customers of the Postal Service.''
Sarah E. Sullivan,
Attorney, Ethics and Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2022-08566 Filed 4-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 22, 2022.
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