Follow the links below to learn how to:
The Privacy Act (PA) of 1974 is a Federal law that is set forth in Title 5, Section 552a, of the United States Code (5 U.S.C.552a), as amended. The purpose of the PA is to balance the Government's need to maintain information about individuals with the rights of individuals to be protected against unwarranted invasions of their privacy resulting from the collection, maintenance, use, and disclosure of personal information. In general, the PA allows individuals to learn how the Federal Government collects, maintains, uses, and disseminates records containing personal information. It also safeguards confidentiality by limiting or restricting disclosure of personally identifiable records maintained by Federal agencies. The PA allows individuals to gain access to their own personal records (unless the requested records are exempted from disclosure), and to seek correction or amendment of Federally maintained records that are inaccurate, incomplete, untimely, or irrelevant. As such, the PA establishes a "code of fair information practices," which requires Federal agencies to comply with statutory norms for collecting, maintaining, and disseminating records containing information about individuals.
Under the Privacy Act, you may request copies of any Census Bureau records that:
You can also ask the Census Bureau to correct records that are inaccurate, incomplete, untimely, or irrelevant.
In some cases, the Privacy Act may not allow release of your personal records.
Request records about yourself under the Privacy Act
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552 was enacted in 1966 so that any individual or organization would have access to government records, unless the records are protected by one of nine FOIA Exemptions (link to Department of Commerce website), or by one of three special law enforcement record exclusions. FOIA does not apply to records held by Congress, Federal Courts, state and local governments, private businesses, schools, private organizations, or private individuals.
Request records under the Freedom of Information Act
FOIA staff are located in room 8H027 of the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters at the Suitland Federal Complex in Suitland, MD.
For inquiries regarding the 2010 Census, please call (301) 763-4636, or visit the Census 2010 website.
Telephone | 1-301-763-6440 |
---|---|
Fax | 1-301-763-6239 (ATTN: FOIA Officer) |
U.S. Mail | Mary C. Potter, FOIA Officer U.S. Census Bureau , Room 8H027 4600 Silver Hill Road Washington, DC 20233-3700 |
Courier or Hand Delivery | Mary C. Potter, FOIA Officer U.S. Census Bureau , Room 8H027 4600 Silver Hill Road Suitland, MD 20746 |
To inquire about the status of your submitted FOIA request, please call 301-763-6440 or contact your assigned FOIA staff member directly.