Reading from a script when you’re not on a stage or the big screen is awkward… but disclaimers are a big part of a background investigator’s daily grind when they are engaging and interviewing subjects.
The Privacy Act of 1974 is a federal law that maintains the collection, use, and distribution of personal information about people maintained in systems of records under the federal government.
One background investigator on the ClearanceJobsBlog is interested on if others cruising the web are implementing the same guidance on reading the new Privacy Act changes word-for-word:
Any nerds reading the new privacy act verbatim to every poor subject? I would be very eager to watch someone read the whole federalregister.gov 25 URL that is part of the statement.
The power move would be for the investigator to bring an intern to the ESI (yes, of course, against the rules) just to read the verbatim privacy act statement and other lengthy passages that are supposed to be read word for word.
Aside from the sarcasm on this thread, one background investigator notes that he was told the URL was the only part they don’t read. They go on, “I’ve adjusted the other required briefing statements since the new PA covers a couple of them.” Others on the thread note that they were instructed to read the URL – perhaps a difference in guidance between contractors and federal workers.
One background investigator makes a valid point:
I still have a hard time not being sarcastic when reading aloud the PA statement. This is the same process where most Subject’s don’t care enough to read the SF86 (or SF85) questions past the first sentence before making their response.
Even taking a look at the recent notices, proposed and current rule changes under the Federal Register shows that the Privacy Act has been getting a makeover recently under multiple federal agencies. Business process improvements have aimed to make the security clearance process and personnel subject interview more intuitive and fluid. But like all things, the process is trying to marry progress with continuity. The overall theme here is ensure you are following protocol and doing your due diligence…whether you are filling out the SF-86 as a candidate or grilling a candidate’s references as an investigator. And if you’re a clearance candidate sitting through an interview and tempted to roll your eyes when an investigator reads through a disclaimer, just remember they’re doing their best and likely following a set of standard operating procedures given to them by their specific agency or contractor.
