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What is a System of Records?

As defined in the Privacy Act, a system of records is a group of records that are retrieved by some kind of personal identifier, such as a name or number. The RRB, like all agencies of the Federal government, is required to publish a description of its systems of records. The description usually includes the following main titles:

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Finding the Right Privacy Act System of Records

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Summary of the Privacy Act

The Privacy Act should be seen as a comprehensive attempt to protect the legitimate privacy interests of the individuals on whom Federal agencies collect and maintain information. As we have seen, it attempts to achieve this goal through the dual thrust of granting rights and imposing obligations--rights for the individual, obligations for the agencies.

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Obligations

Whereas the rights the Privacy Act grants are to individuals on whom agencies collect and keep information, the obligations which the Act imposes are on the agencies themselves. First and foremost among the agency obligations is the obligation to honor the rights of the individuals on whom they collect and keep information. That's obvious. Rights are claims against other parties. In this case, the claims are against the agencies. The ability of the individuals to enjoy their rights rests with agencies who have the obligation to honor them.

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Rights

The rights of individuals on whom Federal agencies collect and keep information (we will call them the "subject individuals) can be classified into the following eight categories:

Prior Notice
Access
Amendment
Appeal
Statement of Disagreement
Litigation
Restricted Disclosure
Accounting of Disclosures

Prior Notice:

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Limitations

Before describing those rights and obligations it is important that we become aware of some of the key limitations of the Privacy Act.

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Overview

The Privacy Act grew out of a growing concern in the Congress and the nation at large over the potential misuse of the vast amounts and kinds of personal information that Federal agencies collect and maintain on individuals, particularly in the light of computer technology with its enormous power to store, manipulate, and transmit data. Its aim was to prevent misuse by the granting of rights and the imposition of obligations.

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Introduction

The Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, affects your right to records which the RRB maintains about individuals, including individuals in the railroad industry.

Privacy Act Overview

The Privacy Act Overview explains what the Privacy Act is, what it covers, when it applies and an individual's rights and an agency's obligations under it.

Finding the Right System if You are a Member of the Railroad Public

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The Privacy Act and the RRB

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The Privacy Act and the RRB

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Information about individuals protected by The Privacy Act that is collected, used or maintained in systems of records is described in notices as published in the Federal Register. The notices are also available for public viewing on this website. The notices describe the information we have, how we use it, how we may disclose it, and how you may review and contest it.

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