Posted on 01/11/2011 6:23:23 PM PST by Innovative
Easy online access to census forms allows millions of Americans to learn more about themselves and their histories.
Basic population statistics are released soon after each census is tabulated. However, for privacy protection, documents with names and personal details of respondents aren't released for 72 years.
But as family historians know, it's the personal fragments garnered from census documents that tell the most dramatic stories of American life.
The personal census documents also name occupations of adults in each household.
The personal census data shows whether the head of household owned a home or rented.
The amount of rent or value of the property is also included in the census.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
I think the take away is that the government claims data is kept private, they never tell you that the data is released, even if it's released 72 years later. People need to know that they might as well post any info they provide to the census on the internet and if the census is keeping all that private info, it can leak out anytime. So much for them "only" using it for statistical purposes.
roots web ancestry right? well i certainly won’t be around in another 72 years if that’s the rule but in a parallel universe there sometimes can be leakage
If it were really “private info” then the government would not have it.
so....can we look up Joe Kennedy’s stuff?
They've been releasing data after 70 years for decades. Just because you didn't know doesn't mean that it's a secret.
Not to fret. The data is secure. Ask Julian Assange.
Interesting. Mickey Mouse is how old now? That should mean that everything after 1940 ought to be in the public domain.
Somebody knows a thing or two about copyright.
When someone looks up us all they will find is 2 homosapians!!!
We have never put any more information than that on a census form and our first one has been released!!
Well I don’t see how people can argue that 70 years is enough time to protect our information, but isn’t long enough to protect corporate information.
We agree.
“They’ve been releasing data after 70 years for decades. Just because you didn’t know doesn’t mean that it’s a secret.”
So why are they lying on the Census 2010 website? Since when is “never” = 72 years?!
“Sworn for Life to Protect Your Confidentiality
All Census Bureau employees take the oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data.
Violating the Oath Is a Serious Crime
The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both.
We depend on your cooperation and trust, and promise to protect the confidentiality of your information. Title 13 of the U.S. Code protects the confidentiality of all your information and violating this law is a crime with severe penalties. In addition, other federal laws, including the Confidential Statistical Efficiency Act and the Privacy Act reinforce these protections.
* Private information is never published
It is against the law to disclose or publish any of the following information:
Names
Addresses including GPS coordinates
Social Security numbers
Telephone numbers “
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/about/protect.php
Looks like my response to you disappeared into last nights blackout of the site.
Not near as much detail as I put into that effort, but two points:
1 - the data is technically being released by the National Archives, not the Census Bureau.
2 - there is much case authority for federal employees being able to lie. You can’t rely on anything that a federal employee tells you unless they have delegated authority in that area.
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