Welcome to the Freedom of Information Act Site

The Freedom of Information Act (F.O.I.A.) U.S.C. (United States Code) Sec. 552 was enacted in 1966 so that any individual or organization would have access to certain government records. The goal of the FOIA is to make all Federal government agency records available to the public, unless those records are protected by one of the nine FOIA exemptions.

The Privacy Act of 1974 protects certain federal government records pertaining to individuals. In general, the Privacy Act prohibits the unauthorized disclosure of the records it protects. It also gives individuals the right to review records about themselves, to find out if these records have been disclosed, and to request corrections or amendments of these records, unless the records are legally exempt.

The purpose of the FOIA and the Privacy Act is to give the public access to existing government records. These records include consumer complaints, investigations, and administrative records. They do not require an agency to create records, conduct investigations, or develop information to answer questions. For example, the FOIA does not require us to respond to a request that asks if it would be wise to purchase a particular product or invest in a particular business venture. To answer that type of request, we will look for general educational materials prepared by the agency that may help you to understand your rights and responsibilities under the law. We will release those records that are not covered by one of the FOIA exemptions. Thus, while we cannot give you specific advice, the information we provide may assist you in reaching your own conclusions.

The FTC's Chief FOIA Officer is David C. Shonka, Assistant General Counsel for Litigation, 202-326-2436.

Last Updated: Monday, January 16, 2006