With many upset about a new federal voter database, The Watchdog looks at other ways the feds invade your privacy.

Are you OK with the state of Texas providing the federal government with your personal voter data?

Texas is giving the new election integrity commission your name, date of birth, address and voting history for the past decade (although not your choice of candidates). The state is denying the request for the last four digits of your Social Security number.

The Watchdog fears that just as the state does, the feds will sell the information to a third party, who in turn will sell it to annoying marketers — or worse. I also fear computer system hacks.

The public outcry against this move to centralize state lists into a national database reminds The Watchdog of other ways the federal government intrudes upon your privacy. Ways you probably don't realize that go far beyond a tax return.

The two ways I'm thinking of are the Million Veteran Program and the American Community Survey. I'm sure most people have never heard of either one. I only know about them because citizens of Watchdog Nation have complained about them to me.

Vets' survey probes too deeply for some

Bill Cade, an 81-year-old retire Air Force veteran, sent me a copy of the Department of Veterans Affairs' Million Veteran Program survey. It's a volunteer research program that seeks to learn the genetic history and lifestyle situations of 1 million veterans.

The government calls it the biggest genome project in history.

Cade sent me a copy of his unfinished survey, which he marked up with skeptical comments. He said he mailed the original back to the VA without filling it out. They sent him another.

He calls it a clear invasion of his privacy.

"They want to know, 'Is your daddy left-handed or right-handed?'" he says, only slightly exaggerating.

Actual questions: Where are your ancestors from? How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion? Have you felt downhearted and blue?

Do you suffer from mental health disorders? If so, which ones? Infectious diseases? Cancer?

Oh, and what about your parents, grandparents and siblings, too?

The survey's cover sheet states: "There is a slight risk of a breach of confidentiality." You think?

The survey is supposed to be anonymous, but Cade points out there's a code on the bottom that's traceable.

Dallas VA spokeswoman Jessica Jacobsen tells The Watchdog: "Only a small number of authorized staff have the key to the code so they can link it accurately to other data that belongs to the participant, such as their medical record information and data obtained from the blood sample."

Almost forgot to mention that survey participants, in addition to filling out the paperwork, also give a blood sample.

It doesn't get more intrusive than that.

So far, since 2011, more than half a million vets have participated.

A census survey you never heard about

Every few months someone contacts The Watchdog to ask about the American Community Survey. They want to know if it's a scam or if it's actually a crime to ignore it, as the warnings state.

The survey, handled each year by the U.S. Census Bureau, is not a scam. But more troubling are the constant warnings of prosecution if you don't complete it.

I tested it a few years ago by not filling it out. I'll tell you what happened in a moment.

The survey looks at the economics of households with prying questions about your family's finances.

Only a small sampling of Americans receive it each year. It's so detailed that it takes more than a half hour to complete.

As Laura D. complained to me in April: "The questions are extremely personal including phone number, income from every source, taxes, mortgage, job address and even what time I leave for work.

"They also want to know if I have trouble getting up stairs, hearing loss, blindness or a mental condition. And they want this information from every person living in my home."

She adds, "A home invasion robber, thief on the street, identity thief, telemarketer and many others could use this information for robbery or scams. It truly frightens me."

I'm not going to tell you not to be frightened or that you must answer the survey. I'm going to say that despite all the warnings that not participating could lead to a $5,000 fine, that never happens.

What's annoying, though, is that once you get the survey and don't answer, a government employee will call you on the phone and come to your house, maybe more than once. I know because it happened to me.

I got warning calls, letters and a home visit, but I didn't give in. And nothing happened.

Most people don't know that.

How is the information used? The government claims it uses the information to decide how to allocate funds for transportation, housing and social services. Businesses also use the results for marketing purposes.

Watchdog tip: Remember to be on the lookout for the ways governments and businesses collect your personal information. Data is the new currency. As these two surveys teach us, just because you're asked the questions, doesn't mean you have to answer them.

Staff writer Marina Trahan Martinez contributed to this report.

Check out The Watchdog Mondays on NBC5 at 11:20 a.m. talking about matters important to you.

Privacy intrusions by the feds

The federal government's new "Election Integrity" commission has asked states to turn over voter data. Texas is complying with much of the request.

Here are sample questions from the VA's Million Veteran Program survey:

Were you adopted as a child?

How many prescription medicines do you currently receive?

Are you right- or left-handed?

Here are sample questions from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey:

How many live at your address? How are they related?

Do you have a desktop computer or laptop?

In the past year what was your cost for electricity, water and sewer?

What are your real estate taxes? Do you have a second mortgage?

Watchdog Dave Lieber

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Watchdog Dave Lieber of The Dallas Morning News is the leader of Watchdog Nation, which shows Americans how to stand up for themselves and become super consumers.