I was just trying to send them an Easter card... yeah that's it an Easter card! That's why I was in their records, that's why. Yeah that's the ticket.
Posted on 03/21/2008 11:58:23 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
March 21, 2008 (Computerworld)
An admission late Thursday that three contract workers in the U.S. Department of State illegally accessed the passport records of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has sparked a firestorm of controversy. While State Department officials characterized the incident as the result of "imprudent curiosity," Obama's campaign spokesman called the breach an "outrageous breach of security and privacy." The breaches occurred Jan. 9, Feb. 12 and March 14, but were apparently not reported to higher-level State Department employees, who said they learned of the incidents just this week. The three workers, two of whom have been fired, have not yet been identified.
No sooner had that news broken than the State Department today had to admit that the files belonging to Sens. Hillary Clinton, (D-N.Y.), and John McCain, (R-Ariz.), had also been improperly accessed.
Just what sort of information did those contractors have access to? What records on the presidential candidates might they have seen? The State Department's own description of its passport record system offers some clues, as well as an indication of just how much data the government compiles on passport applicants.
What exactly is a passport record? A passport record typically consists of applications made by a person for a U.S. passport, together with supporting evidence of U.S. citizenship. The records include details such as date and place of birth, naturalization details, family status, occupation and physical characteristics. Passport records do not include evidence of travel, such as exit and entrance stamps, visas or residence permits. Passport records are protected by the Privacy Act of 1974.
Where are passport records stored? The records are maintained in a classified passport records system located at the State Department's Passport Services annex in Washington.
What individuals and records are covered by the system? The passport records system stores information about people who have applied for or have been issued a passport, or who have asked for an amendment to or renewal of a passport. It contains information on individuals whose passports have been denied, revoked or limited in some way, as well as data on individuals born outside of the country to U.S. citizens, or those who have applied for registration or were registered at U.S diplomatic or consular posts abroad. In addition to those categories of records, the system includes certificates of loss of U.S. nationality and records of death of American citizens abroad.
What else is in the system? In addition to passport applications and the related material, the system stores investigative reports that might have been compiled in connection with granting or denying a passport, or in connection with any violation of passport criminal statutes. It also stores court documents and administrative determinations related to passports and citizenship, as well as copies of birth and baptismal certificates, medical, personal and financial reports and details on arrest warrants of the person applying for, extending or renewing a passport and a person's Social Security number.
How is the information collected? Information comes from the passport applicant as well as law enforcement agencies, investigative and intelligence sources, and officials of foreign governments. The records are stored in paper or electronic format.
How is all this information used? Apart from helping to determine citizenship and eligibility for a passport, the information can be used for employment applications and estate settlements, and to determine Social Security benefits. It can also be used for federal and state law enforcement investigations. Records are retrieved using an individual's name or passport number.
Who uses the system? The information in the passport records system is used not only by the State Department, but also by the Internal Revenue Service; foreign governments (for immigration purposes); federal, state and local authorities; attorneys representing a client in a passport case; and in some cases, members of Congress. In addition, an individual's immediate family members can also ask for the information under the Privacy Act and the Freedom of Information Act.
How is the information protected? All records containing personal information at the State Department are kept in secured file cabinets or in restricted areas to which only authorized personnel have access. All employees and contractors accessing the system must undergo a background check and have valid identification cards. Databases containing personal data are password-protected and are the direct responsibility of the system manager or those reporting to him or her. Transaction logging capabilities allow a system manager to maintain an audit trail of all data access — thereby permitting ad hoc monitoring of computer usage. It was apparently just such a system that triggered an alert when Obama's records were viewed.
Passports can be applied for online. Just open up the application, and see what they ask for.
These records may have contained information that the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI may have considered of interest about the candidates’ contacts with Islamo-Fascists and the open borders - illegal immigration movement.
OK, the infortmation is protected by the privacy act, but it includes NOTHING that would or should be withheld from the general public by a presidential candidate. Totally silly.
This is just so bogus as an argument. I heard a left wing radio nut bitching about trainees getting into files. God how ignorant his audience is. There are levels of access, lets say they are level 1 through 10, 10 being the highest level of security. As you progress in your training and confidence you are permitted higher levels of access. Out of 2 million Federal employees I would gather a good chunk of them spend some time snooping around on any famous figure they can. So somebody got bumped from a level 8 or so to a 10, and their curiosity got the best of them. Big friggin deal.
All three presidential candidates had passport files breached
Sacramento Bee ^ | 3/21/8
I was just trying to send them an Easter card... yeah that's it an Easter card! That's why I was in their records, that's why. Yeah that's the ticket.
I was wondering what is the big deal. I think this answers the question. (I still think a bigger deal is being made of it, just to take attention away from the Wright story.)
Hillary’s and McCain’s records were breached as well. The media headlines say that Obama’s records were breached. A bit of bias here, eh?
Here’s the complete info.....
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/100004.pdf
I see nothing of interest in a pass port application
Correction. Records *might* include a person’s SSN.
Mine, for example, does not.
Unreal, "as well as copies of birth and baptismal certificates, medical, personal and financial reports and details on arrest warrants of the person applying for, extending or renewing a passport and a person's Social Security number." unreal.
I know. It’s not like my SSAN is known only to me.
It’s the updates that could be a big deal,...the original applications are not that big of a deal....
I wish McCain would “stoop” to getting political over this.
He should go postal over it. But not like Hillary and Obama. McCain should explode at the out-of-control bureaucracy: federal employees putting their curiosity above the privacy rights of citizens. Liken it to the bureaucrats who leak sensitive classified information to serve their own political agenda (and undermine policies set out by legitimately elected officials!).
McCain would get lots of brownie points on the right if we thought he would butt heads with the bureaucracy (and investigate/prosecute them for such violations).
One get imagine a bunch of 20-somethings rummaging through the computer system, typing in famous names that come to mind, as a sort of cyber-voyeurism. Not a whole lot differently (in terms of the thought process or lack thereof) of “Googling” someone famous - just more consequences. I think this goes on or used to at the IRS as well.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.