The census' broken privacy promise | Security - CNET News

The census' broken privacy promise | Security - CNET News: "Seventy-two years ago, the federal government made a promise to the American public: "No one has access to your census record except you."
So said a radio ad intended to promote participation in the 1940 census by assuaging privacy concerns. President Franklin Roosevelt even proclaimed, "No person can be harmed in any way by furnishing the information required. There need be no fear that any disclosure will be made regarding any individual or his affairs."

Yet today, the government is posting online all 3.8 million pages of the 1940 census rolls for all to access -- at no charge and with no need to register before viewing them."

"Since the number of enumerated individuals still alive when the census rolls are to be published each coming decade will grow with increasing longevity, the 72-year delay before should be lengthened to 100 years -- both for future censuses and the 1950 to 2010 censuses that have not yet been released."

"If a private company reneged on its privacy policy, you can bet the Federal Trade Commission would immediately launch an investigation. But the only ones who can act when a government breaks its own rules are citizens."