It’s not always good to share

Information sharing between different agencies is often an efficient and beneficial practice that supports good government. However, when that information is protected by the Privacy Act, there are limitations on what the Postal Service can share. With some exceptions, the prohibition on third-party disclosures applies to other state and federal government agencies.

Typically, Privacy Act protected information can only be shared with other agencies for law enforcement or as ordered by a federal court. But it isn’t always clear when these exemptions apply. Therefore, it’s always a best practice to contact the Federal Compliance team or the Privacy and Records Management Office for guidance whenever you receive a request from another government agency for Privacy Act protected information.

Using proper information sharing practices with other government agencies protects the Postal Service from potential legal liability and reputational harm.

And that’s smart business.