Your Privacy Rights

Whenever you are requested to provide personal information to a Federal agency, you are entitled to know:

• the legal authority for requesting the information;
• the purpose for collecting it;
• what routine uses (disclosures) might be made of the information you provide;
• whether disclosure of the requested information is mandatory or voluntary;
• and what effect your refusal to provide the information would have.

The Privacy Act focuses on four basic guidelines:

1. To restrict disclosure of personally identifiable records maintained by agencies.
2. To grant individuals increased rights of access to agency records maintained on themselves.
3. To grant individuals the right to seek amendment of agency records maintained on themselves upon a showing that the records are not accurate, relevant, timely or complete.
4. To establish a code of "fair information practices" which requires agencies to comply with statutory norms for collection, maintenance, and dissemination or records.

  

DoD Privacy Program (DOD Directive 5400.11, dated: October 29, 2014)

 

Introduction to The Privacy Act

Defense Privacy and Civil Liberties Office