Shaun Donovan, director of the Office of Management and Budget, has said the Obama administration plans to set up a new federal privacy council as part of its efforts to protect privacy and foster technological innovation.
Donovan told his audience at the Federal Privacy Summit the new council will work to develop and review recommendations for the recruitment of new talent who will oversee privacy initiatives across the federal government, according to a White House blog entry posted Wednesday.
The OMB chief said his office will soon publish updated versions of information security policies, such as OMB Circular A-130 and OMB Circular A-108, in the next several months.
Donovan noted that the revised OMB Circular A-130 for the management of federal information resources will introduce a new method for the development of strategies for continuous privacy monitoring across government agencies.
OMB will also open for public comment the updated Circular A-108, which seeks to facilitate the implementation of the Privacy Act, he added.
Donovan also cited other efforts the administration has implemented to safeguard privacy and civil liberties.
These include the review of big data programs in both government and private sectors, release of the final Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act omnibus rule and issuance of a blueprint on consumer privacy.
