2011 Privacy Act Compilation

A new edition of the Privacy Act Compilation is posted on our OFR.gov website. It covers all Privacy Act notices and regulations issued by agencies through 2011. The OFR’s Privacy Act editor updated the material for publication in record time — it was revised and re-processed just five weeks after the closing date for new material.

For the latest updates to Privacy Act systems of records and agencies’ privacy regulations try our Privacy Act Suggested Search on FederalRegister.gov.

Why is the Privacy Act important to Americans?

The Privacy Act (PDF) provides safeguards against Federal agencies’ misuse of records and unwarranted invasions of privacy by:

• Restricting disclosure of personally identifiable records maintained by agencies;
• Granting individuals increased rights of access to records maintained about them;
• Granting individuals the right to seek amendment of records maintained about them upon a showing that the records are not accurate, relevant, timely or complete; and
• Establishing a code of “fair information practices” which requires agencies to comply with statutory norms for collection, maintenance, use and dissemination of records.

What’s in the Privacy Act Compilation?

The 2011 Privacy Act Compilation consists of:

• Descriptions of systems of records maintained on individuals by Federal agencies and agency record-keeping policies and practices as published in the Federal Register;
• Agency rules of procedure for individuals requesting information about their records, as codified in the Code of Federal Regulations; and
• Computer matching program notices, as issued under the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, Public Law 100-503 (102 STAT. 2507).