Which of the following statements about the Privacy Act are true?
A. Balances the privacy rights of individuals with the Government’s need to collect and maintain information
B. Regulates how federal agencies solicit and collect personally identifiable information (PII)
C. Sets forth requirements for the maintenance, use, and disclosure of PII
D. All of the above (correct)
Answer: D. All of the above (correct)
The Privacy Act of 1974 is a broad federal law in the United States that encapsulates all the aspects included in options A, B, and C. This law was passed to shield individual records while at the same time acknowledging the government’s prerogative in the collection and storage of some information.
From the analysis of the Act, there is a fine balance between one’s privacy and security as an individual and the information requirements of the government. For example, it enables the citizens to obtain and correct the records that federal agencies have on them and, at the same time, enable the agencies to obtain the required information for their functioning. The Act defines how federal agencies approach the acquisition of PII and how these agencies collect it. It mandates agencies to explain to people why information is collected and how this information is going to be used. For instance, if one is applying for a passport and the State Department wants your social security number and date of birth, then the latter must justify why it wants this information. Moreover, the Act provides for standards of keeping, utilizing as well as sharing of PII. Agencies are obliged to keep the information they register accurate and secure, which can be passed on only under given conditions. For instance, the IRS can share your tax information with other agencies only with your permission, other than when the law allows it. Overall, the Privacy Act equips the legislation with a full blanket for dealing with personal information contained in government records while retaining the efficiency of the government.
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