What does the Privacy Act protect regarding citizen information?

The Privacy Act is designed to protect the personal information of citizens held by government agencies. It specifically limits the circumstances under which personal data can be released to third parties, particularly when that information is collected during investigations. This means that sensitive information pertaining to an individual's privacy cannot be disclosed without proper consent or outside of designated legal contexts. By doing so, the act safeguards personal data from being misused, ensuring individuals have a degree of control over who accesses their information. The act’s main goal is to promote transparency while simultaneously protecting individual privacy rights, establishing important boundaries for data handling by federal agencies.