Sununu Secures Approval Of Data Mining Reporting Measure

SUNUNU SECURES APPROVAL OF DATA MINING REPORTING MEASURE

United States Senator John Sununu (R-NH) today (2/15) secured Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approval of an amendment that would require federal agencies to report to Congress on their use and development of data mining technologies. The measure, which the Committee approved unanimously, is based on legislation (S. 236) he introduced last month with Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI). The amendment was adopted to S. 4, a bill to implement recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

"There is a sharp distinction between the federal government looking at digital records of terrorists and other criminals, and those of law-abiding citizens. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that this technology, which can analyze vast quantities of data, does not unintentionally infringe on Americans' personal privacy," said Sununu, a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. "We must have the facts about current and future data mining activities. This amendment allows Congress to exercise its oversight authority to ensure that these activities are designed and operated appropriately in order to prevent abuses."

Data mining is a practice in which large sets of digital records - whether public, private or both - can be analyzed to find previously unidentified patterns and relationships. The technology can be used to help law enforcement identify terrorists and criminals.

Sununu introduced his amendment with Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI). Under the measure, federal agencies would be required to report to Congress - in classified form, if necessary - within 180 days and every year thereafter on certain data mining activities and how they impact Americans' individual privacy.

With Committee approval of S. 4, the legislation now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

http://www.sununu.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=269353&&year=2007&