Impact Sections

Websites that collect users' data:

Google Logo

Adobe Logo

YouTube Logo

Websites like Google, Adobe, and Youtube were required to include a privacy policy upon creation.

Short Term Impact

Shortly after the Privacy Act was enacted, all corporations including the government had to change their terms of service, their data collection process, and had to include reasons for collecting the information. The government was required to let citizens access and make changes to the information collected on them. There were a few exceptions however, because some information the government collected was private and was not supposed to become public. Now, whenever a form or survey requires personal information, there is a page describing why they want the data and what they will do with it. If someone requests information that they do not have a good reason to collect, then it must be optional if the user would like to give the information out or not. In conclusion, the Privacy Act had a direct impact on the lives of citizens back in the 1970s, and caused information collection to be regulated.

Long Term Impact

The Privacy Act sparked the creation of several later acts. These acts are both focused on digital protection and safety. The acts are the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA. HIPAA was enacted in 1996 and protects medical patients from their sensitive information being accessed without consent, except the health information authorized to be used for medical purposes. COPPA was enacted in 2000 and protects children online, particularly those under the age of 13. The Privacy Act was a foundation for these other acts. These acts are still relevant and important today. The Privacy Act did not just inspire other acts, but it also shaped the way that corporations handle information today. HIPAA and COPPA covered the information that the Privacy Act did not and improved information security.