The FBI NICS E-Check Internet Privacy Policy

Introduction

The FBI NICS E-Check Internet privacy policy is:

  • You do not have to provide personal information to visit the FBI NICS E-Check Web site.
  • The FBI NICS E-Check collects personally identifying information only if specifically and knowingly provided by you.
  • Personally identifying information you provide will be used only in connection with the FBI NICS E-Check transactions or otherwise as described on this website and in the notices and regulations applicable to NICS.
  • Information is collected for statistical and site security purposes. The FBI sometimes performs analyses of user behavior to measure customer interest and to monitor site security.
  • The FBI NICS E-Check uses session cookies to retain information for completing a particular online transaction.

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a piece of information that is sent with a Web page to your browser when you access certain sections of this Web site. At this Web site, the only purpose of the cookie is to store a unique number identifying your FBI NICS E-Check session. The FBI NICS E-Check uses a particular type of cookie called a session cookie that is used only during the current session and not for subsequent sessions. The session cookie will contain information you submit to our Web site. Consequently, a cookie cannot collect any other information from your computer. Also, information stored in cookies placed by the FBI NICS E-Check cannot be seen by other Web sites on the Internet.

Information Collected and Stored Automatically

If you visit the FBI NICS E-Check Web site to read or download information, the FBI NICS E-Check automatically collects and stores only the following information about you:

  • The name of the domain (for example,"xcompany.com" if you use a private Internet access account) and the IP address (a number that is assigned to your computer when you are using the Internet) from which you accessed the FBI NICS E-Check Web site.
  • The type of browser and operating system used to access the FBI NICS E-Check Web site.
  • The date and time you accessed the FBI NICS E-Check Web site.
  • When used, the address of a web site that links to the FBI NICS E-Check Web site.
  • The pages you visited at the FBI NICS E-Check Web site.

This information is primarily collected for statistical analysis. This government computer system uses software programs to create summary statistical reports that are used to assess what information is of most and least interest, to determine technical design specifications, and to identify system performance or problem areas. In certain circumstances, however, the FBI may take additional steps to identify you based on this information and we may share this information, including your identity, with other government agencies.

If you access the FBI NICS E-Check login page, the system will maintain log files containing personally identifying information that you submitted whether login was successful or not. The log files may contain your User Name, your FFL number, information about the digital certificate you presented, and the date/time of the login attempt. The FBI may share this information, including your identity, with other authorized entities for authorized purposes.

Information Collected from Web Forms - Privacy Act Statement

Some pages of the FBI NICS E-Check Web site provide forms for enrolling potential users and allowing registered users to submit the FBI NICS E-Check search requests. This information is requested pursuant to the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Public Law 103-159) and title 28 CFR part 25. These forms request personally identifying information for the principle purposes of enrolling an individual to become an FBI NICS E-Check user, logging a user on to the FBI NICS E-Check, and identifying who submits an FBI NICS E-Check search request. The forms request both mandatory and optional information. If you omit mandatory information, we may not be able to process your request. The information you submit may be seen by various government personnel. Information collected in this manner may be used for responding to you for authorized purposes. Furthermore, we may use this information for certain other purposes and share it with certain other persons and entities, as provided for in the most recently published routine uses for the NICS (Justice\FBI-018).

Security, Intrusion, and Detection

For site security purposes, and to ensure this service remains available to all users, all network traffic is monitored in order to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage, or conduct criminal activity. To protect the system from unauthorized use and to ensure that the system is functioning properly, individuals using this computer system are subject to having all of their activities monitored and recorded by authorized personnel. Anyone using this system expressly consents to such monitoring and is advised that if such monitoring reveals evidence of possible abuse or criminal activity, authorized personnel may provide the results of such monitoring to appropriate officials. Unauthorized attempts to upload or change information or otherwise cause damage to this service are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under applicable federal law. In addition, FBI NICS E-Check system users are subject to the Terms and Conditions contained herein.

Usage Note

Sections 701 and 709 of Title 18, United States Code, prohibit the unauthorized use of the FBI seal or the use of the words "Federal Bureau of Investigation," the initials "FBI," or any colorable imitation of these words and initials "in a manner reasonably calculated to convey the impression that such [activity] . . . is approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation."

Disclaimer for External Links

The FBI is not responsible for the content of any third-party Web site pages that are referenced by or that have references to the FBI NICS E-Check Web site. The user specifically acknowledges that the FBI is not responsible for any defamatory, offensive, misleading or illegal conduct of other users, links, or third parties and that the risk of injury from the foregoing rests entirely with the user.

Disclaimer of Endorsement

Reference herein to any specific commercial products, processes, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government.