PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and Government Information. Hearings held.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jun 14, 2001
Privacy Act of 2001 - Prohibits the sale and disclosure of personally identifiable information by a commercial entity to a non-affiliated third party unless prescribed procedures for notice and opportunity to restrict such disclosure have been followed.Grants the Federal Trade Commission enforcement authority.Amends Federal criminal law to prohibit the display, sale, or purchase of social security numbers without the affirmatively expressed consent of the individual. Exempts certain public records containing social security numbers from such prohibition.Amends the Social Security Act to prohibit the use of social security account numbers on: (1) checks issued for payment by governmental agencies; and (2) driver's licenses or motor vehicle registration.Prohibits a commercial entity from requiring disclosure of an individual's social security number in order to obtain goods or services.Imposes civil monetary penalties for misuse of a social security number.Amends the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to make conforming limitations upon financial industry sale and sharing of non-public personal financial information.Sets forth prohibitions against the selling or marketing of protected health information by specified entities.Amends the Driver's Privacy Protection Act relating to proscriptions against release and use of certain personal information from State motor vehicle records to expand the definition of such personal information, and to include "highly restricted personal information" among such proscriptions.Empowers State Attorneys General to enforce this Act . Establishes Federal injunctive authority regarding any violation of this Act.
People & committees
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] · D–CA
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and Government Information. Hearings held.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6339-6347)
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6337-6339)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze S.1055 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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