Which act governs the privacy of government records and personal data?

• A. Federal Privacy Act of 1974
• B. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
• C. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• D. Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how the government must handle personal information it holds. The Federal Privacy Act of 1974 sets the rules for federal agencies about collecting, storing, using, and disclosing personal data in systems of records. It gives individuals the right to access and request corrections to their records, and it requires agencies to publish notices describing what information is collected and how it’s used. It also restricts disclosures of records without consent unless specific exceptions apply.

Other acts focus on different areas: FERPA protects student education records, HIPAA protects health information, and GLBA protects consumer financial information. Because this question is about privacy of government records and personal data held by federal agencies, the Federal Privacy Act of 1974 is the best fit.