NASA OIG: Notice of a new system of records: Data Analytics System (ADAS)
“In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (Privacy Act), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) publishes this notice of a new system of records entitled “The Office of Inspector General Advanced Data Analytics System (ADAS)” (System Number NASA 10IGDA. This system will store individually identifying information from a variety of individuals who have applied for or received grants, contracts, loans, or payments from NASA, including current and former employees of NASA, contractors, and subcontractors, and others whose actions have affected NASA.”

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3 replies on “New NASA OIG Data System Tracks Everyone and Everything”

  2. As an outsider, I’m having trouble understanding the purpose of this kind of data. It’s natural to look in the private sector for analogs to government behavior when appropriate. Would a public company maintain this kind of data?

    It’s probably useful to know more about vendors, and vendors who have been rejected in the past, I guess, but this ADAS appears more- well, insidious. Over-reaching at the very least.

    1. I can think of a few reasons, but I wouldn’t consider them adequate.

      For example, unlike the private sector, NASA has to satisfy numerous regulations to award contracts, including reviews by people without any conflicts of interest. Keeping track of who has worked for whom, or receives subcontracts from a given company can a pain. I even know of one case where two people, working in related fields, have the same first name, last name and middle initial (but are not related) and are both professors at the same university. You actually have to specify say whether you mean the one in the astronomy or the one in the physics department to keep it straight. The sort of database described would make things like that easier to keep straight.

      However, I personally see lots of drawbacks, in terms of privacy and harm if the database is hacked. I can see the extra convenience, but I wouldn’t say it justifies those risks and disadvantages.

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