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#  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

**TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2005**

Shelly Lowe CB05-CN.01

Public Information Office

\(301\) 763-3691/457-3620 (fax) [Data Stewardship Web
Page](http://www.census.gov/privacy/)

\(301\) 457-1037 (TDD)

e-mail: <pio@census.gov>

## Census Bureau Names Gerald W. Gates as 

## First Chief Privacy Officer

### Agency Also Launches New Web Page Devoted to Data Stewardship 

As part of its commitment to honor privacy and protect the
confidentiality of data it collects about the nation's population and
economy, the U.S. Census Bureau has named Gerald W. Gates as its
first-ever chief privacy officer.

Gates has played a major role in establishing the Census Bureau's data
stewardship program, which ensures that executive decisions reflect a
thoughtful analysis of mission objectives in light of legal and ethical
privacy obligations.

Gates is an expert on privacy and confidentiality issues. His new role
will complement the data stewardship program and communicate the
program's vision, principles and policies, thereby ensuring the
continued protection of information provided by every person that
participates in a census or survey.

"The public places their trust in us to safeguard their information, and
we take that responsibility seriously," said Census Bureau Director
Louis Kincannon. "Our ability to meet the nation's data needs depends on
it. Jerry's pioneering work in data stewardship makes him uniquely
qualified to serve as the agency's first chief privacy officer."

As chief privacy officer, Gates will work with privacy groups,
professional associations, data user groups, congressional staffs,
advisory committees and other interested parties to clarify and
highlight privacy issues and concerns.

(more)

**Editor's Note: News releases, reports and data tables are available on
the Census Bureau's home page. Go to \<http://www.census.gov\>** **and
click on "Releases."**

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"Privacy, confidentiality and the security of the information we collect
from households and businesses across the nation are top priorities at
the Census Bureau," said Gates. "It is clear that privacy concerns will
play an increasing role in the Census Bureau's future, and I will do all
in my power to further strengthen protections, educate our employees and
assure the public that their information is confidential and used solely
to produce high-quality statistics."

Gates has served at the Census Bureau for more than 33 years. He
received a bachelor's degree in business and statistics from the
University of Colorado in 1970, and is the author of numerous papers on
privacy research, perceptions of confidentiality and alternatives for
providing access to statistical data. He has chaired an interagency team
that proposed privacy principles and recommended governmental strategies
for protecting privacy for the National Information Infrastructure.
Gates also served for four years as the U.S. representative to the
Council of Europe Working Party, which developed *Recommendations on the
Protection of Personal Data---Statistics.*

The Census Bureau also launched today new content on its Web site about
the agency's data stewardship program. The site emphasizes privacy and
confidentiality protections in place at the Census Bureau. It also
covers such topics as how to verify that a survey is legitimate. To
access the new content, visit
\<[http://www.census.gov](http://www.census.gov/)\> and click on the
"data protection and privacy policy" link at the bottom of the page.

**[About the Census Bureau's Commitment to Data
Stewardship:]{.underline}**

-   **Private Information is Never Published**

> It is against the law to disclose or publish any private information
> that identifies an individual or business: no names, no addresses, no
> Social Security numbers or Employer Identification Numbers and no
> telephone numbers.

-   **We Collect Information to Produce Statistics**\
    We use your information to produce statistics. Your personal
    information cannot be used against you by any government agency or
    court.

-   **Sworn for Life to Protect Your Confidentiality**\
    Every person with access to information is sworn for life to protect
    your confidentiality.

-   **Violating the Law is a Serious Crime**\
    Anyone who violates this law has committed a federal crime and will
    face severe penalties, including a prison sentence of up to five
    years, a fine of up to \$250,000 or both.

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