What does the Privacy Act of 1974 primarily govern?

The Privacy Act of 1974 primarily governs the release of private information by federal agencies about public employees. This legislation was enacted to establish a code of fair information practices, ensuring that individuals have certain rights regarding their personal information held by federal agencies. The Act restricts the disclosure of personal information and mandates that agencies must collect information in a manner that protects individual privacy. Furthermore, it grants individuals the right to access and request corrections to their personal records maintained by these agencies.

The specific focus on public employees recognizes that they are often subjected to a greater amount of personal data collection due to their employment status, necessitating protection against misuse or unwarranted disclosure. The other options address broader privacy concerns or government powers but do not accurately reflect the primary purpose of the Privacy Act itself.