The evolution of privacy and disclosure policy in the Social Security Administration.

*Associate Commissioner for Policy, Social Security Administration. The author wishes to acknowledge the research assistance of Andrew M. Garreis, Privacy Branch, Division of Technical Documents and Privacy, Office of Regulations, Office of Policy, Social Security Administration. agency-initiated pledge of confidentiality, through the formative years 1940-60, and into the period of rapid policy change occasioned by legislation, passed in the mid1960’s and 1970’s, that addressed government dissemination of information and established fair information practices in government. The thrust of this article is to demonstrate SSA’s consistent and ongoing efforts to keep personal information strictly confidential. The discussion of the SSA policy decisions that were made while implementing the various disclosure-related laws helps to explain the agency’s goals.