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About the Privacy Act

		More Resources Text of the Privacy Act A Citizen's Guide on Using FOIA and the Privacy Act to Request Government Records DOJ Overview of the Privacy Act Privacy Act System of Records Notices - 2006

The Privacy Act of 1974 is a companion to the FOIA. The Privacy Act:

• Regulates Federal Government agency recordkeeping and disclosure practices.
• Allows most individuals to seek access to Federal agency records about themselves.
• Requires that personal information in agency files be accurate, complete, relevant, and timely.
• Requires that agencies obtain information directly from the subject of the record and that information gathered for one purpose not be used for another purpose.
• Provides civil remedies for individuals whose rights may have been violated.
• Provides that the subject of a record may challenge the accuracy of information.
• Recognizes the legitimate need to restrict disclosure of some information.
• Requires that each Federal agency publish a description of each system of records maintained by the agency that contains personal information. (See the Department's systems of records published in the Federal Register)
• Restricts the disclosure of personally identifiable information by Federal agencies.

Making Requests

Consult the Making a Request link if you plan to make a Privacy Act request to the U.S. Department of Education.