PRIVACY: Basic Principles

Privacy issues are implicated in a wide range of activities in both our personal and public lives.

Our concept of Privacy includes

• Control of information concerning our personal life
• Freedom from intrusion upon one's seclusion
• Limits on publicity that places one in a false light
• Prevention of identity theft, and the theft of one's name or likeness
• Right to keep personal information confidential

General Privacy Principles for Public and Private Sectors

• Personal information should be acquired, disclosed, and used only in ways that respect an individual's privacy.
• Personal information should not be improperly altered or destroyed.
• Personal information should be accurate, timely, complete, and relevant to the purpose for which it is provided and used.

Basic Principles of the Privacy Act of 1974

Specifically mandates that the government

• Inform people at the time it is collecting information about them, why the information is being collected and how it will be used.
• Publish a notice in the Federal Register of new or revised system of records about individuals.
• Publish a notice in the Federal Register before conducting a computer matching program.
• Assure the information is accurate, relevant, complete, and up-to-date before disclosing it to others.
• Allow individuals access to records on themselves.
• Allow individuals to find out about disclosures of their records to other agencies and persons.
• Provide individuals with the opportunity to correct inaccuracies in their records.

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This page was last modified on: July 19, 2010 2:26 PM