Responses to the 2020 Census are private and protected. It is illegal for the Census Bureau to share personally identifiable information with anyone, including:
- Federal agencies such as the CIA
- Law enforcement agencies such as DHS, ICE, and FBI
- Social services agencies
- State and local governments/agencies
- The public
- Private companies
- An employer or property manager
The information you provide cannot be used to affect eligibility for government benefits nor can it be used against you in court. In fact, it cannot be used against you in any way. Census information is only to be used for statistical purposes that inform decision making (link to part in MY article).
Violating the law (U.S. Code of Law, Title 13) is a serious federal crime. Harsh consequences include up to five years of prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
More information is available from the Census Bureau at How We Protect Your Information.
More information on the 2020 Census can be found on our 2020 Census resource page.