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Privacy: Compliance

The Privacy Act of 1974
The Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. § 552a (2012) (Privacy Act) governs the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of personal information maintained in a system of records by Federal executive branch agencies. The Privacy Act:

System of Records Notices (SORN)
A system of records is defined by the Privacy Act of 1974 as "a group of any records under the control of any agency from which information is retrieved by the name of the individual or by some identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual."  5 U.S.C. § 552a(a)(5). Agencies are required to publish a System of Records Notice (SORN) for each system of records it maintains. Below are systems of records maintained by MSPB.

Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs)
The E-Government Act of 2002 requires agencies to conduct a privacy impact assessment (PIA) when an agency develops, procures, or uses information technology to create, collect, use, process, store, maintain, disseminate, disclose, or dispose of Personally Identifiable Information (PII). PIAs document what PII MSPB is collecting, why the PII is being collected, and how the PII will be collected, used, accessed, shared, safeguarded and stored.

Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Statements
The Privacy Act of 1974 requires each agency that will be collecting information as part of a new or modified system of records to provide a Privacy Act Statement on the form used to collect the information or on a separate form that can be retained by the individual. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(3). The Privacy Act Statement should provide information regarding the authority for the collection, the principal purposes for which the information is intended to be used, how the information may be disclosed or shared, and the effects, if any, of not providing the requested information.

Matching Notices and Agreements
The Privacy Act of 1974 provides procedural requirements for agencies to follow when engaging in computer-matching activities. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552a(o), "no record which is contained in a system of records may be disclosed to a recipient agency or non-Federal agency for use in a computer matching program except pursuant to a written agreement between the source agency and the recipient agency or non-Federal agency," subject to other delineated exceptions. Notices for approved computer matching programs are published in the Federal Register. For more information, please email privacy@mspb.gov.

Exemptions to the Privacy Act
The Privacy Act of 1974 provides for one special, two general, and seven specific exemptions. 5 U.S.C. § 552a(d)(5); 5 U.S.C. § 552a(j)(1) and (2); 5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)(1)-(7).

One Special Exemption -- 5 U.S.C. § 552a(d)(5)

Exemption (d)(5) - Information compiled in reasonable anticipation of a civil action or proceeding.

Two General Exemptions -- 5 U.S.C. § 552a(j)

Exemption (j)(1) - System of records maintained by the Central Intelligence Agency, or

Exemption (j)(2) - System of records maintained by an agency or component thereof which performs as its principal function any activity pertaining to the enforcement of criminal laws.

Seven Specific Exemptions -- 5 U.S.C. § 552a(k)

Exemption (k)(1) - applies to systems of records containing information properly classified in the interest of national defense or foreign policy.

Exemption (k)(2) - applies to systems of records containing investigatory material compiled for law enforcement purposes other than material covered by the general law enforcement exemption.

Exemption (k)(3) - applies to systems of records maintained in connection with providing protective services to the President of the United States or other individuals who receive protection from the Secret Service.

Exemption (k)(4) - applies to systems of records required by statute to be maintained and used solely as statistical records.

Exemption (k)(5) - applies to systems of records that contain investigatory material compiled solely to determine suitability, eligibility, or qualifications for Federal civilian employment, military service, Federal contracts, or access to classified information.

Exemption (k)(6) - applies to systems of records that contain testing or examination material used solely to determine individual qualifications for appointment or promotion in Federal service, but only when disclosure would compromise the objectivity or fairness of the testing or examination process. Exemption (k)(7) - applies to systems of records that contain evaluation material used to determine potential for promotion in the armed services.