The Census and Privacy
Jun 14, 2009 6:52:37 GMT -5
Post by avordvet on Jun 14, 2009 6:52:37 GMT -5
The Census is coming up, and a lot of people are talking about the invasive questions on the "questionnaire", as many of you already know, this questionnaire has no constitutional authority. I urge you all to to do what, IMHO, millions do every year, answer only with your address and how many people live there... period! Do not lie and turn it in, as it serves no purpose, do not throw it away... address and how many people live there.
"But won't I get in trouble?" Millions of American's refuse to answer this "questionnaire" every year and the government does not try to fine them, why?, because sooner or later it would get dragged into court and the unconstitutionality confirmed. and on the other hand, can you imagine the outcry from millions of Americans should government bureaucrats attempt to "fine" them?
Should they send someone to your door (most likely an ACORN member), politely answer... address and how many people live there, don't get into a debate, remind them the constitution says "Census" = "Enumeration", then ask them to leave immediately as they are now trespassing.
We are the final line in our Constitutional Republic, stand up and be counted, we can only stand so tall without you.
Please pass this along your personal networks.
And be sure to support EPIC, one of many that have been battling for your rights before you even knew they were under attack.
AOV
The Census and Privacy
* Introduction |
* Risks |
* Other Issues |
* News |
* Cases |
* Resources
Introduction
Every ten years, as directed by the US Constitution, the Government conducts a census of all individuals in the country. This enumeration is used both for reapportionment of the members of Congress, as well as for the distribution of taxes. Along with the benefits of the census have come many risks. This page outlines risks to privacy posed by the census.
History
The counting of citizens can be traced back to the Biblical recordings of Moses. In the Book of Numbers, Moses counted people in areas surrounding his kingdom in order to strengthen the count of the population under his control. Scholars discuss that the list of names was used as an original census, creating a legal identity of and control over a group of people.
The history of the United States census dates back to pre-Revolutionary times. It is thought that the census was developed to establish an equitable way to distribute the burden of the Revolutionary War, both economically and in manpower. The expense of the war was proposed to be distributed based upon population, among the 13 colonies, as the new United States government was created. In order to make this uniform, the concept of payment by distribution was included in the Articles of Confederation. The original Congress finally voted that the first distribution method would be by the cumulative value of property within each State. Enumeration of population became the chosen method directly after the Revolutionary War.
The modern census was established in Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 of the US Constitution, providing "Representatives...shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers...The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct."
The minimal enumeration of the population described in the Constitution was quickly expanded to include business and socioeconomic information. Jefferson was a main proponent of expanding the enumeration, as he wished to obtain "a more detailed view of the inhabitants" of the country. The first enumeration counted free persons, including women, children, and those bound to service, but only counted three-fifths of slaves and excluded untaxed American Indians. As of March 1, 1790, it was directed that US Marshals gather the name of head of families, number of people in each family, all other free people, and slaves. In addition to this information, James Madison sought occupational and industrial information, but Congress did not authorize collection of this information in the first census.
Nevertheless, as historian Robert C. Davis argues, "the crucial point is that the first act pushed beyond the simple constitutional provision, thereby establishing a precedent for the enormous expansion of the census in the following century." By 1800, the census collected more refined age information; by 1810 the census collected economic information; by 1820 the census collected more detailed occupational information; by 1830 the census collected information on physical disability; and by 1840 the census collected investment and productivity information. Through this expansion, protections were developed to maintain the confidentiality of economic questions, but the population survey was publicly posted unitl 1850 in order to allow individuals to check for errors.
After the first census, Thomas Jefferson and the American Philosophical Society lobbied for the expansion of reported census information on age, birthplace, and occupation for the purpose of ascertaining "the causes which influence life and health" and "the conditions and vocations of our fellow citizens." Since then, the census became an instituted method of gathering information about American Society.
The US Census has been administered every ten years since the Revolutionary War, and it was intended to be used primarily for the apportionment of Representatives for Congress. The complexity of the census has grown with the expansion of the United States; the US government has found extensive uses for census related statistics. The census has also been crucial in tracking the population needs of various regions and understanding the structural composition of the nation's population. Politically, the census has become a tool in the process of congressional reapportionment.
* Wright, Carroll D. "The History and Growth of the US Census" (excerpt).
* Privacy, the Census and Federal Questionnaires, Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights of the Committee on the Judiciary, US Senate (April 1969).
* Minnesota Population Center (MPC), University of Minnesota "The Public Use Microdata Samples of the U.S. Census: Research Applications and Privacy Issues". Census 2000 Users' Conference on PUMS, Alexandria, VA (May 22, 2000).
* Robert C. Davis, Confidentiality and the Census, 1790-1929, appendix to Records, Computers and the Rights of Citizens, Report of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Automated Personal Data Systems, July, 1973.
* Records and Record Keepers, Records, Computers and the Rights of Citizens, Report of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Automated Personal Data Systems, July, 1973.
The Census and Privacy
The risks that accompany the electronic compilation personal information include re-identification, which is the practice of linking individuals identities to anonymous census records; marketing solicitations; and even more serious consequences of political abuse. The use of information to identify individuals rather than for the statistical collection of information offers room for abuses of privacy and confidentiality.
Risks regarding privacy and confidentiality are not new issues for the Census. According to Thomas S. Mayer, privacy interests have evolved from the very first census in 1790. In the history of the American census, these privacy concerns have regulated the confidentiality of released information and the privacy considerations of individuals. Recorded protest in 1870 up until 1960 reflect the constitutional issues resulting from the requirement for US residents to provide sensitive personal information. Questions on the census about diseases, mortgage values, and other items have raised many risks.
The census forms the most inclusive federal database of American citizens. The information it contains is protected under law from disclosure, yet with the advent of technology many of the traditional legislative protection are inadequate. The recent use of computers has dramatically altered the structure of the US census. It has allowed the Census Bureau to retain information in an efficient format, while also challenging the traditional methods of information collection. Along with this growing technology, the potential harm has grown exponentially. Technology has allowed the collection of information to move at remarkable speeds and the protection of such information remains a struggle.
* Kysar, Douglas A., Kids & Cul-De-Sacs: Census 2000 and the Reproduction of Consumer Culture, 87 Cornell L. Rev. 853 (2001).
* Mayer, Thomas S. "Privacy and Confidentiality Research and the US Census Bureau: Recommendations Based on a Review of the Literature". Research Report Series (Survey Methodology #2002-01) Statistical Research Division, US Bureau of the Census, Feb. 7, 2002, Statistical Review of public and interviewer perceptions.
Full Story: The Census and Privacy epic.org/privacy/census/
"But won't I get in trouble?" Millions of American's refuse to answer this "questionnaire" every year and the government does not try to fine them, why?, because sooner or later it would get dragged into court and the unconstitutionality confirmed. and on the other hand, can you imagine the outcry from millions of Americans should government bureaucrats attempt to "fine" them?
Should they send someone to your door (most likely an ACORN member), politely answer... address and how many people live there, don't get into a debate, remind them the constitution says "Census" = "Enumeration", then ask them to leave immediately as they are now trespassing.
We are the final line in our Constitutional Republic, stand up and be counted, we can only stand so tall without you.
Please pass this along your personal networks.
And be sure to support EPIC, one of many that have been battling for your rights before you even knew they were under attack.
AOV
The Census and Privacy
* Introduction |
* Risks |
* Other Issues |
* News |
* Cases |
* Resources
Introduction
Every ten years, as directed by the US Constitution, the Government conducts a census of all individuals in the country. This enumeration is used both for reapportionment of the members of Congress, as well as for the distribution of taxes. Along with the benefits of the census have come many risks. This page outlines risks to privacy posed by the census.
History
The counting of citizens can be traced back to the Biblical recordings of Moses. In the Book of Numbers, Moses counted people in areas surrounding his kingdom in order to strengthen the count of the population under his control. Scholars discuss that the list of names was used as an original census, creating a legal identity of and control over a group of people.
The history of the United States census dates back to pre-Revolutionary times. It is thought that the census was developed to establish an equitable way to distribute the burden of the Revolutionary War, both economically and in manpower. The expense of the war was proposed to be distributed based upon population, among the 13 colonies, as the new United States government was created. In order to make this uniform, the concept of payment by distribution was included in the Articles of Confederation. The original Congress finally voted that the first distribution method would be by the cumulative value of property within each State. Enumeration of population became the chosen method directly after the Revolutionary War.
The modern census was established in Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 of the US Constitution, providing "Representatives...shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers...The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct."
The minimal enumeration of the population described in the Constitution was quickly expanded to include business and socioeconomic information. Jefferson was a main proponent of expanding the enumeration, as he wished to obtain "a more detailed view of the inhabitants" of the country. The first enumeration counted free persons, including women, children, and those bound to service, but only counted three-fifths of slaves and excluded untaxed American Indians. As of March 1, 1790, it was directed that US Marshals gather the name of head of families, number of people in each family, all other free people, and slaves. In addition to this information, James Madison sought occupational and industrial information, but Congress did not authorize collection of this information in the first census.
Nevertheless, as historian Robert C. Davis argues, "the crucial point is that the first act pushed beyond the simple constitutional provision, thereby establishing a precedent for the enormous expansion of the census in the following century." By 1800, the census collected more refined age information; by 1810 the census collected economic information; by 1820 the census collected more detailed occupational information; by 1830 the census collected information on physical disability; and by 1840 the census collected investment and productivity information. Through this expansion, protections were developed to maintain the confidentiality of economic questions, but the population survey was publicly posted unitl 1850 in order to allow individuals to check for errors.
After the first census, Thomas Jefferson and the American Philosophical Society lobbied for the expansion of reported census information on age, birthplace, and occupation for the purpose of ascertaining "the causes which influence life and health" and "the conditions and vocations of our fellow citizens." Since then, the census became an instituted method of gathering information about American Society.
The US Census has been administered every ten years since the Revolutionary War, and it was intended to be used primarily for the apportionment of Representatives for Congress. The complexity of the census has grown with the expansion of the United States; the US government has found extensive uses for census related statistics. The census has also been crucial in tracking the population needs of various regions and understanding the structural composition of the nation's population. Politically, the census has become a tool in the process of congressional reapportionment.
* Wright, Carroll D. "The History and Growth of the US Census" (excerpt).
* Privacy, the Census and Federal Questionnaires, Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights of the Committee on the Judiciary, US Senate (April 1969).
* Minnesota Population Center (MPC), University of Minnesota "The Public Use Microdata Samples of the U.S. Census: Research Applications and Privacy Issues". Census 2000 Users' Conference on PUMS, Alexandria, VA (May 22, 2000).
* Robert C. Davis, Confidentiality and the Census, 1790-1929, appendix to Records, Computers and the Rights of Citizens, Report of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Automated Personal Data Systems, July, 1973.
* Records and Record Keepers, Records, Computers and the Rights of Citizens, Report of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Automated Personal Data Systems, July, 1973.
The Census and Privacy
The risks that accompany the electronic compilation personal information include re-identification, which is the practice of linking individuals identities to anonymous census records; marketing solicitations; and even more serious consequences of political abuse. The use of information to identify individuals rather than for the statistical collection of information offers room for abuses of privacy and confidentiality.
Risks regarding privacy and confidentiality are not new issues for the Census. According to Thomas S. Mayer, privacy interests have evolved from the very first census in 1790. In the history of the American census, these privacy concerns have regulated the confidentiality of released information and the privacy considerations of individuals. Recorded protest in 1870 up until 1960 reflect the constitutional issues resulting from the requirement for US residents to provide sensitive personal information. Questions on the census about diseases, mortgage values, and other items have raised many risks.
The census forms the most inclusive federal database of American citizens. The information it contains is protected under law from disclosure, yet with the advent of technology many of the traditional legislative protection are inadequate. The recent use of computers has dramatically altered the structure of the US census. It has allowed the Census Bureau to retain information in an efficient format, while also challenging the traditional methods of information collection. Along with this growing technology, the potential harm has grown exponentially. Technology has allowed the collection of information to move at remarkable speeds and the protection of such information remains a struggle.
* Kysar, Douglas A., Kids & Cul-De-Sacs: Census 2000 and the Reproduction of Consumer Culture, 87 Cornell L. Rev. 853 (2001).
* Mayer, Thomas S. "Privacy and Confidentiality Research and the US Census Bureau: Recommendations Based on a Review of the Literature". Research Report Series (Survey Methodology #2002-01) Statistical Research Division, US Bureau of the Census, Feb. 7, 2002, Statistical Review of public and interviewer perceptions.
Full Story: The Census and Privacy epic.org/privacy/census/