Increasing Use of Data Telecommunications Calls for Stronger Protection and Improved Economies

Increasing requirements for modern data transmission services in recent years have resulted in a rapid proliferation of costly single purpose or single agency data telecommunications networks in the civil Government. The Government's increasing use of telecommunications to extend data processing systems raises a variety of new issues and management problems concerning the protection of data transmissions against unauthorized, unwarranted, and illegal uses. A major concern of Congress is to maintain the confidentiality of vast amounts of personal and other sensitive information collected, maintained, and disseminated by Federal agencies. Machine generated communications that are being transmitted over interstate and foreign telecommunications facilities are not protected by current laws against unauthorized interceptions.

Protection of data telecommunications against unauthorized wiretapping can be strengthened by amending telecommunication laws. Civil Government agencies need guidance to determine appropriate safeguards and controls for telecommunications. Executive level policies and guidance on telecommunications provide little assistance for operating agencies. Controls on Federal users and others authorized to collect and handle personal information should be strengthened to increase privacy protection for personal and other sensitive information, regardless of whether shared transmission facilities and related network controls are used. Data telecommunications networks in the civil Government are generally acquired from commercial telecommunications carriers by individual agencies for their own exclusive use. Some departments and agencies have taken or are taking actions to reduce their transmission costs through circuit sharing. GAO believes the consolidation of certain civil Government data telecommunications into a shared data telecommunications network could potentially reduce total Federal data telecommunications costs by at least 20 percent. Significant Government savings can be achieved through use of common user data telecommunications technology without conflicting with privacy objectives.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Warren G. Reed Team: General Accounting Office: Logistics and Communications Division Phone: (202) 275-5130