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    Digital Journalist's Legal Guide
    Tablet and mobile phone showing news online

    Everything online journalists need to protect their legal rights. This free resource culls from all Reporters Committee resources and includes exclusive content on digital media law issues.

    Privacy Act

    A federal law that governs the way federal agencies collect, maintain, use, and disseminate personally identifiable information about individuals that is maintained in agencies' systems of records.

    U.S. Supreme Court rules emotional distress damages not available under Privacy Act

    Rachel Bunn | Privacy | News | March 30, 2012
    Rachel Bunn
    News
    March 30, 2012

    The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that a plaintiff cannot collect damages for emotional distress for government violations of the federal Privacy Act.

    Ohio high court orders partial release of toxicity records

    You-Jin Han | Freedom of Information | Feature | January 20, 2012
    You-Jin Han
    Feature
    January 20, 2012

    The Ohio Supreme Court ruled Thursday that with respect to agency records related to lead poisoning, only portions that do not have “personal identifying information” can be released under the Ohio Public Records Act.

    DEA agent fails to prove viral video violated Privacy Act

    Rachel Bunn | Privacy | Feature | January 18, 2012
    Rachel Bunn
    Feature
    January 18, 2012

    The disclosure of a video showing a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officer accidentally shooting himself in the leg during a lecture to community youths does not violate the federal Privacy Act, a U.S. appeals court ruled Tuesday. The court also rejected the officer's claim for invasion of privacy under the Federal Tort Claims Act.