USPS Sneaks in Device Fingerprinting for Your Mail Accounts—Privacy Win or Creepy Track?
Published Date: 7/23/2025
Notice
Summary
The USPS is updating its Privacy Act records to make customer accounts work better and offer an optional device fingerprinting feature. This affects anyone using USPS services who wants smoother account access and extra security options. These changes are coming soon and aim to keep your info safer without costing you a dime.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Improved USPS Account Functionality
You who use USPS accounts will get improved customer registration and account functionality to make account access smoother. The change is intended to improve how your USPS account works and is described as coming soon, and it is presented as not costing you any money.
Optional Device Fingerprinting Security
You who use USPS services will be offered an optional device fingerprinting feature to provide extra security. The notice says this is optional, aims to keep your information safer, and will not cost you anything.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-19720, National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures
The United States Postal Service is updating its rules for how it checks the environmental impact of its actions, making the process simpler and clearer. This affects USPS employees and anyone interested in how the Postal Service protects the environment. The new rules start on September 25, 2026, and the USPS wants your feedback by October 26, 2026—no extra costs involved, just smarter steps!
2026-18371, Labels 888, 889, 891, and 892, Discontinued
The Postal Service is proposing to amend Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) to discontinue the use of Label 888 and Label 889 respectively. Revisions to the DMM concern only Labels 888 and 889.
2026-17884, Free Matter for the Blind and Other Physically Handicapped Persons
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) to clarify the applicability of the Hazmat Handling Fee, and to require a parcel barcode, on parcels mailed as Free Matter for the Blind and Other Physically Handicapped Persons (Free Matter).
2026-17986, Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is responding to public comments regarding the creation of a new General Privacy Act System of Records (SOR) USPS 820.225, Federal Ballot Mail. The new SOR coincides with the Postal Service's publication of the Final Rule amending the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), regarding the transmission of mail-in or absentee ballots for federal elections. The Postal Service created the SOR to maintain a list of individuals, each individual's address, the unique Intelligent Mail barcodes printed on each individual's outbound and return ballot envelope for a federal election, and the state or political subdivision thereof that issued such ballot for inclusion on a state's Mail-in and Absentee Participation List, as required by the new DMM section. There will be no changes to the new system of records in light of public comments received.
2026-17640, Change in Rates of General Applicability for Competitive Products
This notice sets forth time-limited changes in rates of general applicability for competitive products.
2026-16016, New Mailing Standards for Live Animals
The Postal Service proposes revising Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail (Pub 52), for various package requirements for live animals. This proposal will improve package integrity and container identification for all live animal shipments during processing and handling by prohibiting the reuse of fiberboard containers and requiring individual addressing and sequential numbering for multiple container shipments when bound together in a single shipment. Also, this proposal requires mailers to write the recipient's name and address directly on the packaging of Adult Bird shipments in the event the shipping label becomes detached from the packaging.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-13839, Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision of a Currently Approved Collection: Application for Travel Document
USCIS is updating the form people use to apply for travel documents, like special permission to travel. This change affects anyone needing these documents and aims to make the process smoother without adding extra costs or time. They’re asking for public feedback before finalizing the updates, so now’s the time to speak up!
Next: 2025-13842, Sunshine Act; Open Commission Meeting Thursday, July 24, 2025
The Commission is meeting on July 24, 2025, to discuss updates that make it easier and faster to build better internet and phone services. They want to cut red tape for companies, protect consumers from sneaky charges, and modernize rules for auctions and network changes. These changes aim to save money, speed up service improvements, and keep customers safe.