This is a question that my sister has to write a paper about for school (though it's also an essay contest for SDOG). What are your thoughts on this topic?
2007-12-17 09:30:23 · 5 answers · asked by becki5ive 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Should citizens have access to their own information that the government keeps? Absolutely! I think I have the right to find out what the government knows about me, because I sure haven't told them everything. If they know something that I haven't told anyone, then I would be very concerned as I would need to start wondering how they obtained that information.
Should citizens have access to other citizens' information that the government keeps? Absolutely not, with few exceptions. One being a safety concern (sexual assault, convicted felon, child abuse), all of which are public record anyway. Otherwise, everyone has a right to a private life.
2007-12-17 09:37:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
In general, information the government has about people is public record, and is available to anyone.
There are a few exceptions. IRS information is strictly confidential - the IRS can't even share it with other government bodies. Health and medical data is - mostly - protected. Information critical to ongoing criminal investigations is protected, as is information vital to national security.
Most other info is available to the public - though it may take a FOIA request to get it.
Richard
2007-12-17 17:42:55 · answer #2 · answered by rickinnocal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a little thing called the Freedom of Information Act that was designed for exactly that. You can demand copies of any records related to you for a nominal copying and mailing fee from any agency. You can not get information on others and that's called the Privacy Act. Google both of those on the net and you should have more than enough information for your report.
2007-12-17 17:42:13 · answer #3 · answered by Jim 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On citizens, perhaps. But information on immigrants, whether permananent or temporary, legal or illegal, I don't believe the government is obliged to reveal such information.
Vote for Rudy!
2007-12-17 17:41:18 · answer #4 · answered by Rick K 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how exactly do you propose to index such information, and deliver it securely, promptly, and without abuse on either end?
It is a blockbuster movie scenario to think that government abuses can not be detected by aggregate data anyway.
2007-12-17 17:44:02 · answer #5 · answered by Barry C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋