About CIA

 

Privacy and Civil Liberties at CIA

The United States Government, including the CIA, has a solemn obligation to protect fully the legal rights of all Americans, including freedoms, civil liberties, and privacy rights guaranteed by federal law. The CIA collects, analyzes, and disseminates critical foreign intelligence information to national security policymakers in a manner consistent with this obligation.

All of the CIA’s intelligence activities must be properly authorized, and the collection, retention, or dissemination of information concerning United States persons may only be conducted pursuant to specific procedures approved by the Director of the CIA and the Attorney General. While the protection of national security requires that many of the CIA’s intelligence activities remain secret, in order to improve public understanding and trust and to allow the public to hold CIA to account, CIA has released its procedures for protecting Americans’ personal information and has provided an extensive explanation of the authorizations and limitations regarding such information.

CIA’s Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties (OPCL) helps to ensure that privacy and civil liberties are integrated into the day-to-day conduct of the Agency’s intelligence mission. OPCL is led by CIA’s Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer, who serves as the principal advisor to the Director of the CIA regarding privacy and civil liberties matters. OPCL provides privacy and civil liberties guidance regarding the collection and handling of sensitive information in connection with online systems, programs, and enterprises across the Agency. OPCL also informs and trains Agency personnel regarding privacy and civil liberties protections.

Reports of the OPCL:

    Complaints Concerning Privacy and Civil Liberties:

    Members of the public may contact the CIA Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer to make a complaint regarding possible violations of privacy protections or civil liberties in the administration of CIA programs and operations. A complaint may be sent via postal mail to the following address:

    Central Intelligence Agency

    Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer

    Washington, D.C. 20505

    Members of the public may also submit a complaint using the web form. To ensure proper routing, please indicate that your complaint is addressed to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer.

    OPCL will review all complaints directed to the PCLO. A complaint must state the possible violation of privacy protections or civil liberties with sufficient detail to allow the PCLO to assess the nature of the complaint and whether a remedy may be appropriate. Due to limited resources, OPCL will not be able to respond to complaints that do not provide sufficiently detailed information. A response by the PCLO will neither confirm nor deny the accuracy of the complaint and/or whether the individual has been subject to CIA action, but will confirm that the complaint has been properly investigated and indicate, when appropriate, that the matter has been remedied or found to be in compliance with applicable law or policy. A complaint also may be referred to the CIA Office of Inspector General or to another Federal Government agency, as appropriate.

    If you are seeking to request records related to yourself or another individual, pursuant to the Privacy Act or Freedom of Information Act, please follow the instructions found here:

    Additional Privacy and Civil Liberties Authorities and Resources:


    Posted: Jan 18, 2017 03:40 PM
    Last Updated: Nov 01, 2018 11:26 AM