General Discussion

What is PII?
PII, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), is information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual's identity, either alone or when combined with other personal or identifying information.
Federal Privacy Act:
The Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, provides privacy protections for records containing information about individuals collected and maintained by the federal government.
Criminal Penalties:
Under the Privacy Act, a person who knowingly and willfully discloses PII can face criminal penalties, including a fine of not more than $5,000.
This applies to government employees who violate the act.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutes criminal violations of privacy laws, including the Federal Privacy Act.
Civil Actions:
Individuals can bring a civil action in federal court for damages against any agency of the U.S. Government that violates the Federal Privacy Act.
This includes violations related to the release of information to the person who is the subject of the record or failing to maintain an accurate record.