---
title: "Resource: Privacy Act Notice example"
source: 18F Guides
source_url: https://github.com/18F/guides
licence: CC0-1.0
domain: engineering
subdomain: 18f-guides
date_added: 2026-04-25
---

The Privacy Act of 1974, 5 USC 552a, provides protection to individuals by ensuring that personal information collected by Federal agencies is limited to that which is legally authorized and necessary and is protected against anticipated threats to security or integrity which could result in substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience or unfairness to the individual. The Privacy Act also requires that Privacy Act Notices appear whenever GSA collects personally identifiable information (PII) from individuals in order to allow for informed consent.

Please state:
1. **The authority** (whether granted by statute, or by executive order of the President) which authorizes the solicitation of the information and whether providing the requested information is voluntary or mandatory;
1. **The principal purposes** for which the information is intended to be used;
1. **The routine uses** which may be made of the information (this may be included by reference to the applicable [System of Records Notice (SORN)](https://www.gsa.gov/reference/gsa-privacy-program/system-of-records-notices-sorns-privacy-act))
1. **The effect(s) on the individual,** if any, of not providing all or any part of the requested information.


Example Privacy Act Statement for GSA Real Estate Exchange

>GSA is asking for your email address in order to contact you about your experience with this website. You are not required to provide your email address. Nothing about how you can use this site will change if you do not provide your email address.
>
>This collection of information is authorized by the E-Government Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-347, 44 USC § 3501). GSA may use this information pursuant to its published Privacy Act system of records notice, GSA SORN PBS-5.
>
>Thank you for helping us improve this government website.
