📜 The Privacy Act of 1974 is a foundational U.S. law that governs how federal agencies handle personal information. It was enacted to protect individuals from the misuse of their data by the government and to give them rights over how that data is collected, used, and shared.

🔍 Core Principles

The Act established a Code of Fair Information Practices, which includes:

• Transparency: Agencies must inform the public about systems of records they maintain
• Consent: Personal data can’t be disclosed without the individual’s written permission (with 12 statutory exceptions)
• Access: Individuals have the right to view and request corrections to their records
• Accountability: Agencies must follow strict record-keeping and security protocols

🗂️ What’s a “System of Records”?

It’s any group of records under an agency’s control that can be retrieved by a person’s name or unique identifier—like a Social Security number.

🛡️ Why It Matters

• Protects privacy in an era of growing government databases
• Limits surveillance and unauthorized data sharing
• Empowers individuals to control their personal information

🧠 Fun Fact

The Act was inspired by concerns over how computers and centralized databases could be used to track citizens—especially as Social Security numbers became widely used across agencies.

It’s basically the government’s promise to treat your personal data with respect.