Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 6, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

State agencies moving forward on privacy protections

OLYMPIA - State agencies have made major progress in meeting personal privacy mandates ordered by Governor Gary Locke, according to a preliminary report issued by the State Office of Financial Management.

In April, Locke issued an executive order to protect citizens' sensitive personal information held in state files. Agencies were directed to take immediate and systematic action to limit the amount of information they collect. They were also directed to publish privacy statements on their web sites and safeguard sensitive personal data.

"Without proper safeguards, public and private databases that contain sensitive personal information can be a real threat to personal privacy," Locke said. In his executive order, Locke emphasized the importance of open records and the public's right to know, but said that the state must also be a leader in preventing unauthorized uses of sensitive information about its citizens.

"Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the nation. We in government must do everything we can to reduce the risk that the personal information we hold does not end up in the wrong hands," Locke said.

As a precaution against identity theft and financial fraud, many agencies have changed the way they use Social Security numbers and bank account numbers of the public and their own employees. As of August, state employee pay stubs no longer display these numbers, and the Department of Personnel is developing an alternate means of identifying employees.

Other agencies, such as the Department of Labor and Industries, have removed Social Security numbers from nearly 50 of their forms. Central Washington University has changed its student information system so that Social Security numbers are masked. Central also uses a new software system that randomly assigns student ID numbers and avoids the use of Social Security numbers.

More than 40 agencies have already placed privacy policies on their Internet web sites so that people know how their information is used when they log on. These policies are based on a model privacy notice drafted by the Department of Information Services for use by all state agencies.

Agencies have also adopted special procedures for the handling and disposal of sensitive personal data to guard against accidental disclosure.

Many agencies have tightened up their contracting language to ensure that those who use agency data under contract do not violate privacy requirements. Contract audits and penalties for breaches of privacy have been added to contracts. The Department of Licensing has already uncovered illegal use of personal information, and penalized the company by terminating its contract.

"Government, like the private sector, must be a responsible custodian of information about the people it serves. Poor management of personal information can result in privacy abuses and harassment of individuals, financial fraud, and identity theft. For state government, these risks are simply unacceptable," said Locke.

The Senate Commerce, Trade Housing, & Financial Institutions Committee will hold a work session at 1:30 on Thursday, September 7, in Olympia, on government records and personal privacy. A review of Locke's executive order and its results is on the agenda.

The preliminary public records privacy report is available here. Copies also can be obtained by calling 360-902-0666.

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