It seems that the personal, confidential passport information of celebrities, politicians and other well known Americans are breached routinely. The electronic records do not have the purported safeguards to prevent people in the government from having a look at these data:

“…The report documented a widespread lack of controls on the personal data of the 127 million Americans who hold passports, finding numerous “weaknesses, including a general lack of policies, procedures, guidance and training.” The State Department had maintained that its system worked when the candidates’ passport breaches were discovered.

“This is unacceptable. The report makes it clear that the private information of over 100 million Americans is vulnerable to unauthorized access,” said Sen Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.).”

link: Celebrity Passport Records Popular

Not only does this expose this data base to the risk of identity theft, it is a matter of national security. For example, there are key officials in all branches of the government who zealously guard their private information. Exposure of this information not only puts them at risk. It endangers the facility or infrastructure of which they are a vital part. The easy access of this vital information, a data base for all Americans who have or have had a passport, is chilling.

Catherine Forsythe