[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 78 (Friday, April 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24207-24208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08566]


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POSTAL SERVICE


Privacy Act; System of Records

AGENCY: Postal Service[supreg].

ACTION: Notice of a modified system of records; response to comments.

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SUMMARY: The United States Postal Service[supreg] (USPS[supreg]) is 
responding to public comments regarding revisions to a General Privacy 
Act Systems of Records (SOR). These revisions were made to support an 
initiative sponsored by the United States Postal Inspection 
Service[supreg] (USPIS[supreg]) to conduct link analysis for 
investigative purposes. There will be no changes to the system of 
records or the effective date of January 18, 2022, in light of public 
comments received.

DATES: The revisions to USPS SOR 700.000, Inspection Service 
Investigative File System, Document Citation 86 FR 71679, were 
originally scheduled to be effective on January 18, 2022, without 
further notice. After review and evaluation of comments received, the 
Postal Service has found that no substantive changes to the system of 
records are required, and that the effective date for the 
implementation of the proposed revisions should proceed as scheduled.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janine Castorina, Chief Privacy and 
Records Management Officer, Privacy and Records Management Office, 202-
268-3069 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 17, 2021, the Postal Service 
published notice of its intent to modify an existing system of records, 
USPS SOR 700.000, Inspection Service Investigative File System, to 
support the USPIS sponsored initiative to conduct link analysis for 
investigative purposes.
    The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is focused on 
continuous improvement in the effort to stay one-step ahead of bad 
actors and to preserve the sanctity of the mail. To further this 
objective, USPIS is implementing a process to conduct a link analysis 
across multiple disparate Postal systems to aggregate data and increase 
efficiency. This process will automate the analysis process in part, 
reducing manual effort by Postal Inspectors and Inspection Service 
analysts.
    The Postal Service provides the following responses to the comments 
received pursuant to its Federal Register notice 86 FR 71679, regarding 
proposed modifications to USPS SOR 700.000, Inspection Service 
Investigative File System.
    1. Question 1: \1\ The Inspection Service's (USPIS) System of 
Record adjustments allowing for the to conduct link analysis for I 
1nvestigative purposes is outside of USPIS's jurisdiction.
    Answer: Leveraging new technology to link data and more effectively 
process investigative data is well within the authority of the United 
States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Title 18 U.S.C. 3061 
specifically grants USPIS the authority to investigate criminal matters 
related to the Postal Service, its products, services, infrastructure, 
employees, and the mail. The powers granted in this section are put 
into effect in the enforcement of laws regarding property in the 
custody of the Postal Service, property of the Postal Service, the use 
of the mails and other postal offenses. With respect to such property, 
Postal Inspectors are empowered to conduct investigations, on and off 
the property in question, of offenses that may have been committed 
against property owned or occupied by the Postal Service or persons on 
the property. Processing data more effectively, falls squarely within 
USPIS's authority.
    2. Question 2: \2\ The Inspection Service's (USPIS) System of 
Record adjustments allowing for the to conduct link analysis for 
investigative purposes will allow USPIS to conduct surveillance on 
customers.
    Answer: Law enforcement agencies have an increased need to manage 
data in a more secure, efficient, and effective manner, while remaining 
true to necessary legal and regulatory requirements. The USPIS will 
utilize a flexible, investigative intelligence platform that uses a 
data model to drive the discovery of associated data. Such a platform 
would fuse previously disconnected paradigms such as business 
intelligence, dashboard, link analysis, content search, and operational 
monitoring, across USPIS's network. Streamlining investigative and 
analytical procedures is not surveillance.
    3. Question 3: \3\ The Inspection Service's (USPIS) System of 
Record adjustments allowing for the to conduct link analysis for 
investigative purposes increases access and therefore privacy risk.
    Answer: Law enforcement agencies have an increased need to manage 
data in a more secure, efficient, and effective manner, while remaining 
true to necessary legal and regulatory requirements. Streamlining 
investigative and analytical procedures does not increase access to 
data. However, should USPIS decide to increase access to data, such a 
decision falls within USPIS's clear mandate to investigate criminal 
matters related to the Postal Service, its products, services, 
infrastructure, employees, and the mail. Regardless, USPIS implements 
information security standards in accordance with the USPS Chief 
Information Security Office and applies increased security controls 
where necessary. USPIS takes its responsibility to safeguard its 
investigative data seriously and takes significant measures to protect 
such data.

Footnotes

    \1\ In response to implied question contained in comments 
submitted by The Electronic Privacy Information Center, Section II,

[[Page 24208]]

entitled ``The Postal Inspection Service is at serious risk of 
mission creep when the agency expands information collection and 
investigations beyond traditional postal crimes.''
    \2\ In response to implied question contained in comments 
submitted by The Electronic Privacy Information Center, Section III, 
entitled ``The Postal Inspection Service is seeking to expand its 
system of records to include data from USPS customers who have done 
nothing to warrant law enforcement surveillance.''
    \3\ In response to implied question contained in comments 
submitted by The Electronic Privacy Information Center, Section IV, 
entitled ``Increased access to customer data poses privacy risks for 
customers of the Postal Service.''

Sarah E. Sullivan,
Attorney, Ethics and Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2022-08566 Filed 4-21-22; 8:45 am]
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