The Transportation Security Agency last week circulated a notice to Federal Air Marshals regarding protection of sensitive data (pdf). A copy was obtained by Secrecy News.

The notice focuses on Sensitive Security Information (SSI) and so-called Sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

SSI is transportation security-related information that is exempt from disclosure.

Sensitive PII includes social security numbers, drivers license numbers and similar data.

The proliferation of new categories and new acronyms for restricting disclosure of information is not helpful, said P. Jeffrey Black, who is himself a Federal Air Marshal and a whistleblower.

“Employee personal identification information is protected under the Privacy Act. There is no reason to come up with yet another acronymed classification for something that is already protected by Act of Congress,” Mr. Black said in response to an inquiry from Secrecy News.