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Protecting Data Privacy and Research Integrity

A coalition of leading data, population, and policy research organizations (Association of Population Centers, Association of Public Data Users, Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics, Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, and Population Association of America) has raised concerns about a recent Department of Commerce order that restricts the privacy-protection methods available to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The groups warn that the change could force agencies to choose between protecting personal privacy and providing the detailed, high-quality data that researchers, policymakers, and communities rely on for evidence-based decision-making.​

The statement explains that limiting modern disclosure avoidance tools could reduce transparency, weaken data quality, and create uncertainty about the future availability of important federal statistical products. The coalition is urging the Department of Commerce to rescind the order or, at a minimum, provide a public implementation plan and seek stakeholder input before making changes.​

What can you do?

  • Contact your Members of Congress and explain why protecting both data privacy and data quality matters to research and policymaking.
  • Share the statement with colleagues, students, and others who rely on federal statistics.
  • Help raise awareness about the potential impact on public-use data and evidence-based decision-making.
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