2013) see also, e.g., Navy, Navy Exch., Naval Training Station, Naval Hosp. Mine Safety & Health Review Comm’n, 715 F.3d 631, 650 (7th Cir. Under the Privacy Act’s disclosure provision, agencies generally are prohibited from disclosing records by any means of communication – written, oral, electronic, or mechanical – without the written consent of the individual, subject to twelve exceptions.įederal officials handling personal information are “bound by the Privacy Act not to disclose any personal information and to take certain precautions to keep personal information confidential.” Big Ridge, Inc. “No agency shall disclose any record which is contained in a system of records by any means of communication to any person, or to another agency, except pursuant to a written request by, or with the prior written consent of, the individual to whom the record pertains. There are twelve exceptions to this general rule.Ī. The general rule under the Privacy Act is that an agency cannot disclose a record contained in a system of records unless the individual to whom the record pertains gives prior written consent to the disclosure. CONDITIONS OF DISCLOSURE TO THIRD PARTIES