Earp helps Secretaries of State focus on information security issues

September 5, 2007 - Julie Earp, associate professor of information systems at NC State’s College of Management, helped focus a discussion on redaction – the removal of sensitive information from documents that are to be made public – at a recent meeting of Secretaries of State and information security thought leaders.

Earp, whose research focuses on information privacy and policy issues, spoke on the topic: "Defining the Issue: Why are we redacting?" at the August 14-15 meeting of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council (NECCC) Redaction Symposium. [cutline]

The conference participants came together in Portland, Maine, to explore and ultimately publish a white paper on redaction and public papers. Their most immediate concern focused on Social Security numbers (SSN) and Federal Employee Identification Numbers (FEINs), Earp said. "However," she added, "other information that can be misused is contained on public records documents as well. Signatures, for example."

Earp said that while public records have always been public, they were protected by practical obscurity. "A person had to physically visit the location where the records were stored," she said.

"As we have moved from paper-based systems to digital ones, the exposure of SSNs has increased," she said. "SSNs are frequently used as identifiers on public documents, such as property deeds. Now, it is incredibly easy for anyone, despite their geographic location, to access many of our public records - and in turn, access SSNs. It is very important for these public records to remain 'public,' as there is legitimate use for such records, including in commerce and law enforcement." 

The forum, "Today's Three P's: Privacy, Public Access, and Policy-making," was sponsored by the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and hosted by Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap.

The white paper will be written by John Smith of the Maine Secretary of State’s Office, with the symposium participants providing review and comment on the draft document this fall. The white paper will also be featured on the NASS website and distributed to all the Secretaries of State. NASS eC3 board members - Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, Montana Secretary of State Brad Johnson, and North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall - will be particularly involved with writing the white paper, and Earp will provide final review and comment.

Related Links

Details of the symposium
Texas State site leaks personal data - PC World
Privacy advocates target Mass. Secretary of State's Web site - Computerworld.com
Identity thief speeds away with $20,000 - Fox News
Social Security numbers found on state websites - USA Today

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Julie Earp, center, with, from the left, Secretary Elaine Marshall, NC; Secretary Brad Johnson, Mont.; Secretary Kurt Browning, Fla.; and Secretary Matthew Dunlap, Maine.