Definitions

What is a fusion center?

Data fusion involves the exchange of information from different sources - including law enforcement, public safety, and the private sector - and, with analysis, can result in meaningful and actionable intelligence and information. The fusion process turns information and intelligence from multiple sources into actionable knowledge.  The physical fusion of federal, tribal, state and local public safety resources provides the means for de-conflicting and reducing duplication of resources as well as, a central repository for crime-related information, including risk and threat assessments, and subject-matter experts who can aid in threat identification.  Private sector and citizens play an integral part in the fusion process because they provide fusion centers with industry expertise, community concerns, and particles of information that aid in connecting the dots. 

What is 28 CFR Part 23?

28 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 23 is a guideline for law enforcement agencies that operate federally funded multijurisdictional criminal intelligence systems. 28CFR provides the foundation for gathering, analyzing, disseminating and storing intelligence information.

What is a privacy policy?

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) called for the issuance of guidelines to protect privacy and civil liberties in the development and use of the "information sharing environment" (ISE). Executive Order 13388, Further Strengthening the Sharing of Terrorism Information to Protect Americans, provides that, "[t]o the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, agencies shall...give the highest priority to...the interchange of terrorism information among agencies...[and shall] protect the freedom, information privacy, and other legal rights of Americans in the conduct of [such] activities..."

ACTIC follows a privacy policy and procedure guide which implements the requirements under the IRTPA and EO 13388 to protect information privacy rights and provide other legal protections relating to civil liberties and the legal rights of Americans in the development and use of the ISE.