The overview is not intended to provide policy guidance as that role statutorily rests with the office of management and budget omb 5 usc 552av however where omb has issued policy guidance on particular provisions of the act citation to such guidance is provided in the overview. Privacy act of 1974 long title an act to amend title 5 united states code by adding a section 552a to safeguard individual privacy from the misuse of federal . The privacy act of 1974 5 usca 552a is a federal law that places restrictions on the federal governments collection use and dissemination of personal . Summary of privacy act the privacy act of 1974 as amended at 5 usc 552a protects records about individuals that can be retrieved by personal identifiers such as . The privacy act of 1974 5 usc 552a establishes a code of fair information practices that governs the collection maintenance use and dissemination of