Attachment 6 PRIVACY AWARENESS TRAINING.docx

Attachment 6

PRIVACY AWARENESS TRAINING

Required annually, training and updates supplied by FEMA What You Need to Know about “The Privacy Act and Protecting Personally Identifiable Information (PII)”

· FEMA is responsible for protecting the privacy of its employees, contractors, and the public we serve;

Under the Privacy Act:

· You are required to take precautions when collecting, maintaining, distributing, and disposing of PII in executing your job.

Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

· Definition: any information that permits the identity of an individual to be directly or indirectly inferred, including any information which is linked or linkable to that individual regardless of whether the individual is a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, visitor to the U.S., or employee or contractor to the Department. Emails, data sheets, laptops, inspection tablets, unauthorized sharing of information; leaving files unattended can lead to identify theft.

Sensitive PII

· Definition: as personally identifiable information, which if lost, compromised, or disclosed without authorization, could result in substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience, or unfairness to an individual

Privacy Act Penalties

· Any officer or employee of an agency who willfully discloses PII in any manner to any person or agency not entitled to receive it, could be charged with a misdemeanor and fined not more than $5,000

· Any person who knowingly and willfully requests or obtains any record concerning an individual from an agency under false pretenses shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more than $5,000