Privacy is an issue that arises from the intersection of a demand for improved recordkeeping processes, and computing technology as the response to the demand. Recordkeeping in the United States centers on information about people. Modern day computing technology has the ability to maintain, store, and retrieve records quickly; however, this system supports decisions made on highly personal issues. There is no right of ownership with regard to personal information, a situation which could pose many opportunities for unfairness, discrimination, and harm. The Privacy Act (PL 93-579) reflects the social expectations that (1) the individual will have some say in how information about him is used, (2) the individual will have some protection against unwarranted harm because of the functioning of some recordkeeping system, and (3) the individual has protection against unwelcome, unfair, or intrusive collection of information. Present laws which have come out of the Privacy Act include the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Credit Billing Act, the Equal Opportunity Employment Act, the Equal Opportunity Credit Act, and the Family Educational Rights Act. As the capability of computing technology and its ability to support the information demands of modern society are exploited, it must be done in such a way that the balance between all record systems and the individual is properly established. (JEG)