Computers and Government: Privacy
To begin our coverage of Privacy, we need to address the fact of the use of Computers in Government. To receive government services, as citizens, we are required to divulge information.
1 Computers in Government
Government – Executive, legislative and judicial branches of the United States government include the following offices/services, in which computers are widely used:
- Law enforcement
- Post office
- ID cards
- Libraries
- Judicial
- IRS
- Social Security
Computers, and associated technologies, are utilized for a variety of purposes:
- Keeping track of tax payments
- Forms filed by individuals
- Corporations, people entering and leaving the country
- Status of government contracts
2 Computer Uses in Government Offices
The following is taken from: Computer Uses in Government Offices | eHow.com
Computers have taken the place of sending agents and collecting documents, because the coordination and examination of information electronically is faster and cheaper. However, unnecessary or duplicate info is collected and stored as well.
Like businesses, state and federal government offices use computers. Government employees must set up meetings and distribute various reports. Computers help these workers expedite these tasks, as most government-issued computers contain numerous software programs like word processing, spreadsheets and database management programs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Computer uses in government offices also include various e-mail functions, payment distribution, record keeping and even coordinating mailings.
Email Functions
Government offices that have computers usually have some type of email system in place. Emails enable government workers to compose, send or read emails from other workers and people outside the company. For example, a state unemployment office employee might answer a person’s question about eligibility by email. This might inevitably save the worker time, as she would not need to speak with the person by phone. Government employees might also use emails to distribute copies of reports or presentations.
Distributing Payments
State and federal offices use computers to distribute payments to people. These payments can be sent electronically like most Social Security payments, or by check. For example, the Internal Revenue Service will usually issue checks to people for refunds. Similarly, state treasury offices often send state refund checks. Government offices also use computers to send or print disability, Medicare, Medicaid and other payments. The checks are usually produced on various printers in the government offices.
Record Keeping
The government often hires computer programmers or database managers to maintain records of employees and citizens, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most of these records are kept in large databases, which can store records of people’s gender, age, address, phone number and other important information. Government offices also keep records of dates, such as when people file taxes, and amounts that are due and paid. Computer record keeping is an essential function for government offices because of the need for accuracy and timeliness–like for Medicaid payments.
Direct-Mail Promotions
Some government agencies or offices might use computers to produce various direct-mail advertising campaigns. Government workers might produce these various documents on their computer, and then have them professionally done through their printing office. Government workers will use various name and address files to arrange the mailing, and then print them directly on envelopes or brochures. For example, the United States Postal Service often uses direct-mail marketing programs to promote its various products and services, such as commemorative stamps or Express Mail.
3 Local Government Administrative Utilization of Computers
The following is taken from: Uses of Computers in Local Government Administration | eHow.com
In the modern era, few businesses can operate efficiently without computer technology. The same is true of government agencies, and entities from the Federal government down to the local level rely on computers to help their employees do their jobs more effectively and efficiently. At the local government level, computers are used for everything from maintaining tax databases to keeping lists of job applicants.
Local Tax Database
Collecting and distributing tax revenue is a big part of the job of any local government agency, and computers are routinely used to make this cumbersome task simpler and easier to manage. Local government agencies can use computer programs to gather lists of everyone living in their communities, along with pertinent details such as where those individuals work and how much money they earn each year. That demographic information is then used to create invoices for occupational taxes and other local assessments. Computer technology can also be used to check the income individuals reported on their tax returns against official records like employer W2 forms and 1099 forms.
Employment Information
Computers can be used to track employment information for those working in local government. The functions that can be computerized and automated include everything from salary history and year to date earnings to education level and employee assessment information. Local government agencies can also use their computer systems to build a database of job applicants and resumes, making it easier and faster to fill any vacancies that arise due to resignations, retirements and terminations.
Tracking Building Permits
It is the job of local government to enforce zoning ordinances, grant waivers when warranted and provide building permits to homeowners and contractors. Local government agencies can make the process of granting and tracking those building permits easier with a searchable database. Building a database that can be searched by permit number, street address and property owner makes it much easier for local government workers to find the information they need to serve clients that stop by the office with questions, complaints or problems.