The March 20 executive order entitled "Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos" empowers the federal government to merge unclassified data from different agencies. While this appears beneficial in enhancing data sharing and reducing unnecessary duplications, concerns arise about merging sensitive personal data—such as medical files and tax returns—potentially jeopardizing privacy. While the intent is to fight fraud and streamline processes, the balance between efficiency and protection of personal information remains a critical issue.
If you are going to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, there's a clear benefit to smashing silos. For instance, what if a real estate company told lenders and insurers that a property was worth a certain amount, but reported what were "clearly...fraudulent valuations," according to a New York Supreme Court judge.
At first glance, the order seems reasonable. Both noun and verb, the very word silo evokes waste. Isolating information in silos squanders the benefits of pooled data.
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