The Office of Management and Budget has updated its guidance on the role and responsibilities of senior agency officials for privacy amid advancements in technology and information analytics.
Marc Groman, senior adviser for privacy at OMB, wrote in a blog post published Thursday the new guidance outlines requirements for the designation of SAOPs and seeks to help agencies address challenges in the digital age.
He said the guide calls for agency heads to evaluate the management and operation of their organization’s privacy efforts and assign an SAOP official.
SAOPs are also required to take a central function in an agency’s policy development and evaluation, privacy compliance and privacy risk management efforts, Groman added.
The guidance complements other measures taken by the administration to protect privacy such as the recently updated Circular A-130 meant to coordinate agency approach to privacy and information security.
The government also established a Federal Privacy Council to share ideas, best practices and approaches for privacy protection across the government.
