DHS says Terror Watchlist is exempt from Privacy Act

August 10, 2011 | 4:55 PM
By Ali Winston



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Last Friday, the federal government’s new anti-terror database, the Terror Screening Watchlist Service, went live. The database is loaded with an unknown amount of personal information, including names, photographs and biometric data. In a new turn that has civil liberties advocates crying foul, the Department of Homeland Security is claiming all information contained in the watchlist is confidential.

Earlier today, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and several other groups filed a formal complaint with DHS about the blanket exemptions to the Privacy Act. http://www.scribd.com/doc/62049020/DHS- ... Complaints

Under DHS’ rules guidelines for the Terror Watch Lists, individuals “do not have an opportunity to decline to provide informationâ€