(a) Civil Liberties Protection Officer

(1) Within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, there is a Civil Liberties Protection Officer who shall be appointed by the Director of National Intelligence.

Terms Used In 50 USC 3029

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • intelligence: includes foreign intelligence and counterintelligence. See 50 USC 3003
  • intelligence community: includes the following:

    (A) The Office of the Director of National Intelligence. See 50 USC 3003

  • National Intelligence Program: refers to all programs, projects, and activities of the intelligence community, as well as any other programs of the intelligence community designated jointly by the Director of National Intelligence and the head of a United States department or agency or by the President. See 50 USC 3003
  • officer: includes any person authorized by law to perform the duties of the office. See 1 USC 1

(2) The Civil Liberties Protection Officer shall report directly to the Director of National Intelligence.

(b) Duties

The Civil Liberties Protection Officer shall—

(1) ensure that the protection of civil liberties and privacy is appropriately incorporated in the policies and procedures developed for and implemented by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the elements of the intelligence community within the National Intelligence Program;

(2) oversee compliance by the Office and the Director of National Intelligence with requirements under the Constitution and all laws, regulations, Executive orders, and implementing guidelines relating to civil liberties and privacy;

(3) review and assess complaints and other information indicating possible abuses of civil liberties and privacy in the administration of the programs and operations of the Office and the Director of National Intelligence and, as appropriate, investigate any such complaint or information;

(4) ensure that the use of technologies sustain, and do not erode, privacy protections relating to the use, collection, and disclosure of personal information;

(5) ensure that personal information contained in a system of records subject to section 552a of title 5 (popularly referred to as the “Privacy Act”), is handled in full compliance with fair information practices as set out in that section;

(6) conduct privacy impact assessments when appropriate or as required by law; and

(7) perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Director of National Intelligence or specified by law.

(c) Use of agency Inspectors General

When appropriate, the Civil Liberties Protection Officer may refer complaints to the Office of Inspector General having responsibility for the affected element of the department or agency of the intelligence community to conduct an investigation under paragraph (3) of subsection (b).