Sen. Dan Akaka last week introduced an amendment to the cyber security bill in the Senate that the ACLU is touting as “crucial.”

We don’t think about it much but the federal government collects an enormous amount of personal information on a regular basis: in order for citizens to receive benefits and services, to exercise fundamental rights like voting or petitioning the government, for licensing everything from guns to businesses, for employment, education and for many types of health care. In short this information collection is nearly ubiquitous in American life.

Read more from the ACLU: Crucial Amendment Added to Cyber Bill Would Improve Federal Agency Handling of Personal Information

Akaka’s holding a hearing Tuesday titled “State of Federal Privacy and Data Security: Lagging Behind the Times?” to explore the issue further, according to his office.

Tuesday’s hearing will examine shortcomings in the existing Privacy Act and other related privacy laws when it comes to adequately protecting privacy in the 21st century. Witnesses will discuss whether federal privacy policy should be altered and will explore how Congress can fix our privacy and data security framework.

— Michael Levine

Photo by Flickr user sridgway