Achieve Total Governmental Transparency While Protecting Sensitive Information:
Introduction
Governmental transparency is essential for fostering trust between citizens and the state, but achieving this balance while protecting sensitive information like personally identifiable information (PII), health data under HIPAA, and classified national security information is challenging. Below is a discussion on methods to enhance transparency, including mandating blockchain financial systems for government agencies that fail audits, and explores classifying government finances into active classified and unclassified blockchain groups.
Key Principles of Governmental Transparency
- Accessibility: Information should be readily accessible to the public to facilitate understanding of government actions and decisions.
- Accountability: Government officials must be held accountable for their actions, fostering an environment of responsibility.
- Privacy Protection: Safeguarding individual rights and sensitive information is crucial to maintaining public trust.
Methods to Enhance Governmental Transparency
1. Open Data Initiatives
- Data Portals: Establish comprehensive open data portals to allow citizens to access non-sensitive government data easily. Like data.gov partially does today.
- Standardized Formats: Provide data in standardized, machine-readable formats to facilitate analysis and use by citizens and researchers.
2. Regular Reporting and Audits
- Mandatory Reporting: Require government agencies to submit regular reports on their activities, including decision-making processes and spending.
- Independent Audits: Implement independent audits of government agencies to ensure compliance with transparency requirements and evaluate program effectiveness.
3. Public Disclosure of Government Contracts and Grants
- Transparency in Procurement: Mandate the disclosure of all government contracts and grants, including selection criteria and performance evaluations.
- Real-Time Updates: Provide real-time updates on procurement activities to keep citizens informed of spending and contract awards.
4. Enhanced Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Processes
- FOIA Modernization: Streamline the FOIA process to reduce response times and increase the efficiency of information requests.
- Disclosure Clearing House: Mandate agencies publish all FOIA requests and responses in searchable Library of Congress maintained web portal to disclose requested information and responses reducing the burden on both citizens and agencies. Instead of allowing non-responsive requests require all FOIA non-responsive or data masked responses be reviewed by a federal court who may pull the redaction or change the response category as needed. If a response needs to be protected until a certain time has elapsed then those answers shall be maintained on a system capable of releasing them automatically as clear text responses when the protection period has elapsed. The protected or classified FOIA request master question list and responses shall be regularly reviewed for early release or declassification.
- Proactive Disclosure: Encourage agencies to proactively disclose frequently requested or repeatedly asked for information in annual reports, reducing the burden on both citizens and agencies. These reports shall be evaluated for consolidation into meaningful transparent and downloadable digitally formats and inclusion in open government initiatives.
5. Use of Technology and Social Media
- Digital Platforms: Leverage technology to disseminate information through user-friendly digital platforms, making it easier for citizens to access government data and reports.
- Social Media Engagement: Utilize social media to communicate government initiatives and decisions, providing real-time updates and engaging with the public.
6. Mandating Blockchain for Financial Transparency
- Audit Failures and Blockchain Implementation: Mandate any governmental agency or program that fails two consecutive financial audits must adopt a blockchain financial system. This requirement would enhance accountability and transparency in financial reporting.
- Benefits of Blockchain: Blockchain technology offers immutable records and real-time tracking of financial transactions, making it easier to detect fraud, mismanagement, and inefficiencies.
- Two Blockchain Groups: Eventually, the goal would be to categorize all government finances into two blockchain groups: active classified and unclassified. This structure would allow for enhanced transparency in unclassified financial data while still protecting sensitive classified information until its classification authority declassifies the program or purpose.
Protecting Sensitive Information
1. Clear Classification Guidelines
- Defined Categories: Establish clear guidelines for what constitutes protected or classified information, PII, and HIPAA data, ensuring clarity on what can be made public.
- Review Periods: Implement regular review periods for classified information to ensure timely declassification.
2. Data Minimization Principles
- Limit Collection: Adopt data minimization principles to ensure only the necessary amount of personal data is collected and retained by government agencies.
- Anonymization Techniques: Utilize anonymization and aggregation techniques for data shared publicly, while protecting individual identities.
3. Time-Limited Classification
- 75-Year Rule: Mandate all classified information be regularly reviewed (every five years) for early declassification and eventually mandatory declassification at 75 years. If during a review it is determined the information is no longer sensitive, it should be released to the public.
- Automatic Declassification: Establish procedures for automatic declassification of certain types of information after the designated period unless a compelling reason for continued classification is presented and approved by the sitting President. Any information presidentially approved must be reviewed every presidential cycle and individually reapproved or released.
4. Public Awareness Campaigns
- Education on Privacy Rights: Launch campaigns to educate citizens about their rights regarding PII and health information, ensuring they understand data protection measures.
- Engagement with Stakeholders: Involve civil society organizations and privacy advocates in discussions about transparency and data protection.
Conclusion
Achieving total governmental transparency in the United States while protecting sensitive information is a complex but necessary endeavor. Implementing open data initiatives, enhancing FOIA processes, and adopting blockchain technology for financial accountability can foster transparency without compromising individual privacy or national security. Mandating blockchain for agencies that fail audits and structuring finances into classified and unclassified groups will further enhance accountability. By balancing these interests, we can build a more trustworthy and responsive government that effectively serves its citizens.