CBP Has Not Ensured Safeguards for Data Collected Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems

In December 2014, OIG previously reported on the effectiveness and cost of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program. Our report disclosed that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had not developed performance measures needed to accurately assess program effectiveness and make informed decisions. CBP also did not recognize all UAS operating costs and, as such, the Congress and public may be unaware of the amount of resources invested in the program. This audit determined that CBP has not ensured effective safeguards for surveillance information, such as images and video, collected on and transmitted from its UAS. Without a privacy assessment, CBP could not determine whether ISR Systems contained data requiring safeguards per privacy laws, regulations, and DHS policy. CBP’s failure to implement adequate security controls according to Federal and DHS policy could result in potential loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of ISR Systems and its operations.