Announced Action for July 26, 2005: The Commission Has Approved the Federal Register Notice Regarding FTC’s Proposal to Revise Privacy Act Records System: Inspector General Investigative Files - FTC

Commission issuance of Federal Register notice: The Commission has approved the publication of a Federal Register notice regarding the FTC’s proposal to revise an existing Privacy Act records system known as the “Inspector General Investigative Files – FTC.” According to the notice, which will be published shortly and is available now as a link to this press release on the FTC’s Web site, in order for the agency's Office of Inspector General to participate in certain activities under the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the Commission must make certain changes to the existing system notice for that Office's Privacy Act records. The proposed changes will add new routine uses to allow the disclosure of information to authorized individuals within the President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency and the Executive Council on Integrity and Efficiency. These agencies are charged with conducting qualitative assessment reviews of investigative operations for the purpose of reporting to the President and Congress on the activities of the Office of the Inspector General.

The Commission will accept comments on the proposal for 30 days after the date the notice is published in the Federal Register. The notice contains information about how interested parties can submit comments. Unless further changes are made, the proposed revisions will become final and effective without further notice 45 days after publication. The Commission vote to issue the Federal Register notice was 4-0. (FTC File No. P052103; the staff contacts are Cynthia Hogue, Office of the Inspector General, 202-326-2618; and Alex Tang, Office of the General Counsel, 202-326-2447.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.