Privacy and Compliance

Privacy Act Information

This is any information that is covered by the Privacy Act of 1974. The act covers the collection, maintenance, and dissemination of personally identifiable information (PII) inside the federal government. Information covered in this act includes Social Security number (SSN), payroll number, information on education, financial transactions, medical history, criminal history, and employment history. This information can only be disclosed with the written consent of the subject or if the use fits into one of the following exceptions:

• By the U.S. Census Bureau or the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for statistical purposes

• Routine use within a U.S. government agency

• A document with significant historical value for archival purposes

• For law enforcement

• Congressional investigation

• Other administrative purposes

It is important to remember that this act only applies to organizations inside the federal government.

State government and private entities are not governed by the Privacy Act of 1974.

In the following table, you need to decide which information you are willing to share and if it protected by the Privacy Act of 1974.

Information Type

Willing to Share

Protected Information

Social Security number (SSN)

Browsing history

Educational records

Financial transactions

Shopping habits

Employment history

Driving record

Travel history

Medical history

Eating and drinking habits

Criminal history

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