Which act was established to provide guidelines influencing PIAs specifically for government agencies?

• A. The Patriot Act
• B. The E-Government Act of 2002
• C. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
• D. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Answer: (B)

The E-Government Act of 2002 was established with the purpose of improving the management and operations of government agencies and enhancing their accessibility to the public through digital means. One significant aspect of this act is that it set forth guidelines for conducting Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs). These assessments are crucial for evaluating how government agencies handle personal information and ensuring compliance with privacy standards.

The E-Government Act mandates that agencies conduct PIAs whenever they are developing or procuring information systems that collect, maintain, or disseminate personal information. This requirement helps ensure that privacy risks are identified and mitigated early in the process, promoting transparency and accountability in how government entities manage personal data. As a result, it serves to protect citizens' privacy rights while enhancing public trust in government operations.

In contrast, while the other acts mentioned do include provisions related to privacy and data protection, they primarily address specific sectors or purposes. The Patriot Act focuses on national security measures, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act pertains to financial institutions and consumer privacy, and HIPAA is centered around protecting health information. Therefore, these statutes do not specifically target the guidelines for conducting PIAs within government agencies like the E-Government Act does.