Under strict constitutional and judicial guidelines and constraints, government agencies should have the right to collect information secretly as part of criminal investigations. The Privacy Act of 1974 addressed some of these issues, particularly as they relate to government and financial activities. Congress adopted the Privacy Act to provide safeguards for an individual against an invasion of privacy. Under the Privacy Act, individuals decide which records kept by a federal agency or bureau are important to them. They can insist that these data be used only for the purposes for which the information was collected.
Individuals have the right to see the information and to get copies of it.
They may correct mistakes or add important details when necessary. Federal agencies must keep the information organized so it is readily available. If an individual's rights are infringed upon under the Act, that person can bring suit in a federal district court for damages and obtain a court order directing the agency to obey the law. The Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 requires consumer reporting and credit agencies to disclose information in their files to affected consumers. Consumers have the right to challenge any information that may appear in their files.