SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:

Discrimination Complaint System–FTC (FTC-II-6).

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:

Unclassified.

SYSTEM LOCATION:

Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. For 

other locations where records may be maintained or accessed, see Appendix III (Locations of 

FTC Buildings and Regional Offices), available on the FTC’s website at 

https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/foia/foia-reading-rooms/privacy-act-systems and at 80 FR 9460, 

9465 (Feb. 23, 2015).

SYSTEM MANAGER(S):

Director, Equal Employment Opportunity Office, Federal Trade Commission, 600

Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580, email: SORNs@ftc.gov.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:

Section 717 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2000e16; 29 CFR part 1614.

PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM:

To assist in the consideration given to reviews of potential or alleged violations of equal 

employment opportunity (EEO) statutes and regulations and to maintain records on

pre-complaint and complaint matters relating to those issues; for the purpose of counseling, 

investigating, and adjudicating such complaints; to resolve issues related to alleged 

discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental 

disability, sexual orientation, or status as a parent in connection with EEO matters; to make 
reports to Office of Management and Budget, Merit Systems Protection Board, and Equal 

Employment Opportunity Commission. (This system corresponds to EEOC/GOVT-1, Equal 

Employment Opportunity in the Federal Government Complaint and Appeal Records.)

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:

Past or present Federal Trade Commission employees and applicants for employment.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

Complaints, affidavits, supporting documents, memoranda, correspondence, and notes 

relevant to and compiled during precomplaint and complaint investigations and matters at the 

FTC; investigatory files and reports incorporating copies of such records.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:

Individual about whom the record is maintained, affiants, and EEO staff, other personnel 

records.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING

CATEGORIES OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:

The system of records notice published for this system by the EEOC (EEO/GOVT-1) sets 

forth the routine uses (disclosures) of records in this system outside the agency. (For further 

information, the EEOC’s Web site is www.eeoc.gov.)

In addition, records in this system may be routinely used and/or disclosed:

(1) To the complainant’s lawyer or other formally designated representative of the

individual, to the extent required by applicable Federal sector equal employment law and

regulations. Portions of the investigatory file may be redacted to protect against disclosure

outside the agency of information about individuals other than the complainant.

(2) As relevant and necessary in administrative hearings and appeals to which the
complainant and the FTC are parties before the EEOC, including any related court litigation or 

appeals.

For other ways that the Privacy Act permits the FTC to use or disclose system records 

outside the agency, see Appendix I (Authorized Disclosures and Routine Uses Applicable to All 

FTC Privacy Act Systems of Records), available on the FTC’s website at 

https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/foia/foia-reading-rooms/privacy-act-systems and at 83 FR 55541, 

55542-55543 (Nov. 6, 2018).

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF RECORDS: 

Documents consist mainly of paper records; certain records (e.g., draft memoranda, 

letters, e-mails) may be generated or maintained electronically.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF RECORDS: 

Indexed by name of the complainant.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:

Records are retained pursuant to General Records Schedule 2.3 for varying periods of 

time after resolution of a case; including cases that did not result in an official formal or informal 

EEO complaint (2 years), cases resolved within the agency that did not go to the formal process 

stage (3 years), and cases resolved by formal process within the agency, by the Equal 

Employment Opportunity Commission, or by a U.S. Court (7 years).

ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL SAFEGUARDS:

Access is restricted to FTC personnel and contractors whose responsibilities require

access. Paper records are maintained in lockable cabinets in the FTC’s EEO Office, and access is 

restricted to FTC’s EEO staff and parties concerned in any related proceeding. Access to 

electronic records is controlled by “user ID” and password combination, and/or other appropriate 
electronic access and network controls (e.g., firewalls). FTC buildings are guarded and 

monitored by security personnel, cameras, ID checks, and other physical security measures.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:

See § 4.13 of the FTC’s Rules of Practice, 16 CFR 4.13. For additional guidance, see also 

Appendix II (How To Make A Privacy Act Request), available on the FTC’s website at 

https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/foia/foia-reading-rooms/privacy-act-systems and at 73 FR 33592, 

33634 (June 12, 2008).

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:

See § 4.13 of the FTC’s Rules of Practice, 16 CFR 4.13. For additional guidance, see also 

Appendix II (How To Make A Privacy Act Request), available on the FTC’s website at 

https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/foia/foia-reading-rooms/privacy-act-systems and at 73 FR 33592, 

33634 (June 12, 2008).

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:

See § 4.13 of the FTC’s Rules of Practice, 16 CFR 4.13. For additional guidance, see also 

Appendix II (How To Make A Privacy Act Request), available on the FTC’s website at 

https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/foia/foia-reading-rooms/privacy-act-systems and at 73 FR 33592, 

33634 (June 12, 2008).

EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:

As provided in EEOC/GOVT-1, pursuant to subsection (k)(2) of the Privacy Act, 5 

U.S.C. 552a(k)(2), investigatory materials, if any, compiled for law enforcement purposes in this 

system of records are exempt from subsections (c)(3), (d), (e)(1), (e)(4)(G), (e)(4)(H), (e)(4)(I) 

and (f) of the Act.
HISTORY: 

73 FR 33591-33634 (June 12, 2008).