Question

Under the _______________________ Act, you are entitled to look at your personal records held by government agencies. The law also allows you to gain access to those records about you that are held by credit bureaus.

a. Privacy Act
b. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
c. Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
d. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Answer 1

The correct answer is option (a). The Privacy Act of 1974 gives individuals the right to access personal records held by government agencies and credit bureaus.

Step-by-step explanation:

Under the Privacy Act, individuals are granted the right to access their personal records held by government agencies. This legislation plays a crucial role in safeguarding the privacy of citizens by regulating the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information by federal agencies.

Enacted in 1974, the Privacy Act ensures transparency and empowers individuals to be aware of and control the information held about them.

Additionally, the law extends its provisions to cover credit-related information through other statutes. The correct legislation governing access to credit-related records is the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

This act, established to promote accuracy, fairness, and the privacy of information in consumer credit reports, allows individuals to request and review their credit reports from credit bureaus.

While the Privacy Act primarily pertains to government records, the FCRA specifically addresses credit reporting agencies, ensuring that consumers have the right to dispute inaccuracies and have a say in how their credit information is handled.

Both acts collectively contribute to the broader framework of protecting individual privacy and maintaining the accuracy of personal records across different domains.