Questions that Fusion Centers Should Answer
Presentation to the Privacy Coalition
by Mike German, ACLU


Questions to Ask Local Officials

Is there a State, local or regional Fusion Center in my area?
Is it located within law enforcement facilities or in other government or private space?
Who are the participants in the Fusion Center?
Under what authority does the Fusion Center operate (State law, local law, or federal law)?
Who is responsible for ensuring all federal, State and local laws protecting privacy and civil liberties are enforced?
What State or local sunshine laws apply?
Questions to Ask Local Officials
What intelligence or data is collected and how is it stored?
What does the Fusion Center do to ensure the accuracy of the data?
Who has access to this data at the Fusion Center? How is it protected from misuse?
Who receives data, intelligence reports or other products from the Fusion Centers?
Do any private companies handle, store or analyze data received from or processed through the Fusion Center? How is that data protected once it is out of government control?

Questions to Ask Local Officials

Do all data bases associated with the Fusion Center comply with 28 C.F.R. Part 23?
How is private personally-identifiable information received by the Fusion Center protected?
Does the Fusion Center engage in data-mining? What databases/data sets does the Fusion Center have access to, and how does it access them?
What are the annual costs of the Fusion Center?
How do you evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the Fusion Center?
Who trains Fusion Center personnel?

Questions to Ask Local Officials

Are there facilities at the Fusion Center to store classified information?
Have local officials been given security clearances?
Have any private sector entities been given security clearances or access to sensitive information at the Fusion Center?
Does the military participate, and if so under what authority? How is their activity monitored to ensure compliance with the law?
Does the use of classified information limit intelligence sharing with State and local law enforcement agencies?