Overview of the Privacy Act of 1974, May 2000

The "Overview of the Privacy Act of 1974" is a discussion of the Privacy Act's disclosure prohibitions, its access and amendment provisions, and its agency recordkeeping requirements. Prepared by the Office of Information and Privacy in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), it is updated and expanded biennially. Any inquiry about the Privacy Act's provisions should be made to individual agency Privacy Act officers in conjunction with use of this "Overview." Particularly important Privacy Act policy/litigation questions, or questions concerning the OMB Guidelines, may be directed to the Office of the Chief Counselor for Privacy, OMB, at (202) 395-1095.

• Introduction
• Legislative History
• Role of the Privacy Protection Study Commission
• Role of the Office of Management and Budget
• Computer Matching
• Policy Objectives
• Definitions
  A. Agency
  B. Individual
  C. Maintain
  D. Record
  E. System of Records
  1. Disclosure: Subsection (b)
  2. Access and Amendment: Subsections (d)(1) and (d)(2)
  3. Other Aspects
• Conditions of Disclosure to Third Parties
  A. The "No Disclosure Without Consent" Rule
  B. Twelve Exceptions to the "No Disclosure Without Consent" Rule
  1. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)(1) ("need to know" within agency)
  2. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)(2) (required FOIA disclosure)
  3. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)(3) (routine uses)
  4. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)(4) (Bureau of the Census)
  5. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)(5) (statistical research)
  6. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)(6) (National Archives)
  7. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)(7) (law enforcement request)
  8. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)(8) (health or safety of an individual)
  9. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)(9) (Congress)
  10. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)(10) (General Accounting Office)
  11. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)(11) (court order)
  12. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)(12) (Debt Collection Act)
• Accounting of Certain Disclosures
• Individual's Right of Access
• Individual's Right of Amendment
• Agency Requirements
  A. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(1)
  B. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(2)
  C. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(3)
  D. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(4)
  E. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(5)
  F. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(6)
  G. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(7)
  H. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(8)
  I. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(9)
  J. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(10)
  K. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(11)
• Agency Rules
  A. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(f)(1)
  B. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(f)(2)
  C. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(f)(3)
  D. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(f)(4)
  E. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(f)(5)
• Civil Remedies
  A. Amendment Lawsuits
  B. Access Lawsuits
  C. Accuracy Lawsuits for Damages
  D. Other Damages Lawsuits
  E. Intentional/Willful Standard and Actual Damages in Accuracy and Other Damages Lawsuits
  F. Principles Applicable to All Privacy Act Civil Actions
  1. Attorney Fees and Costs
  2. Jurisdiction and Venue
  3. Statute of Limitations
  4. Jury Trial
• Criminal Penalties
• Ten Exemptions
  A. One Special Exemption--5 U.S.C. § 552a(d)(5)
  B. Two General Exemptions--5 U.S.C. § 552a(j)(1 and (j)(2)
  C. Seven Specific Exemptions--5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)
  1. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)(1)
  2. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)(2)
  3. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)(3)
  4. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)(4)
  5. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)(5)
  6. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)(6)
  7. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)(7)
• Social Security Number Usage
• Government Contractors
• Mailing Lists
• Miscellaneous Provisions