Certified Fraud Examiner Practice 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The U.S. Privacy Act of 1974 primarily focuses on individual privacy and governs the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of personally identifiable information by federal agencies. The Act ensures that individuals have certain rights concerning their data, such as the ability to access their records, request corrections, and be informed of how their information is being used. This legislation was designed to safeguard individuals from potential abuses that could arise from government data collection practices, emphasizing the importance of protecting personal information in an era where governmental record-keeping was expanding significantly.

In this context, while businesses have rights concerning data collection, the specific focus of the Privacy Act is on protecting individuals rather than organizations. Similarly, the ability of states to gather information is not the primary focus of this law, as it applies specifically to federal agencies. Lastly, while telecommunications regulations do touch on privacy issues, they fall under different legislation that addresses electronic communication rather than the core objectives of the Privacy Act concerning personal data held by the government.