About the Office

Principles

The privacy of an individual is directly affected by the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of personal information by Federal agencies;
The increasing use of computers and sophisticated information technology, while essential to the efficient operations of the Government, has greatly magnified the harm to individual privacy that can occur from any collection, maintenance, use, or dissemination of personal information;
The opportunities for an individual to secure employment, insurance, and credit, and his or her right to due process, and other legal protections are endangered by the misuse of certain information systems;
The right to privacy is a personal and fundamental right protected by the Constitution of the United States; and
In order to protect the privacy of individuals identified in information systems maintained by Federal agencies, it is necessary and proper for the Congress to regulate the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of information by such agencies.