TSA Reveals Secrets On The Web
The same government that wants to make everyone’s medical records electronic has an agency that revealed its secrets on the web. The TSA published its Airport Screening Procedures Manual for everyone to see. This is just the latest in a string of errors committed by government agencies involving the release of private or sensitive electronic information. From stolen laptops to hacked systems, the sensitive information of people and agencies has been breached time and again.
In a massive security breach, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inadvertently posted online its airport screening procedures manual, including some of the most closely guarded secrets regarding special rules for diplomats and CIA and law enforcement officers. ABC
The government wants to make medical records electronic. I have no problem with electronic medical records that a physician or medical plan uses because those records contain a small segment of the population and are usually not bounced all over the world. Breaches happen but when was the last time anyone heard about medical records being breached outside of the government?
If the government makes all our records electronic then all that information will be in one place and if it is hacked or accidentally released (see TSA and the VA) then things will be bad indeed. Not to mention that every government agency that wants to take a peek will be able to. It might not seem like it but the current health care bills give unprecedented power to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Who knows what the Secretary might allow to be released in the name of public interest or controlling health care costs.
You can bet that the political elite will not have their records in such a system because embarrassing items might get hacked and used against them in an election.
Right now medical information cannot be released unless the patient authorizes it or the doctor is served with a court order (as well as a few other ways). If the government has control none of that will be necessary.
We have privacy laws in this country and we need to ensure that they are maintained. The nanny state should not have access to our medical information.
The government already has too much control over us when it is we who should control them.
And remember, if your information is disclosed by the government you will have no method of legal relief.
Big Dog resides at Big Dog’s Weblog
