CIPP/US Study Guide
Chapter 1: Introduction to Privacy

U.S. HEW Fair Information Practices (1973)

The FIPs used widely today trace to a 1973 U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare report whose Code of Fair Information Practices set five core requirements, including no secret recordkeeping systems.

  • There must be no secret personal-data recordkeeping systems
  • A person must be able to find out what information about them is in a record and how it is used
  • A person must be able to prevent information obtained for one purpose from being used for other purposes without consent
  • A person must be able to correct or amend a record of identifiable information about them
  • Any organization handling identifiable personal data must assure its reliability and prevent misuse

Key terms - quick answers

What is “HEW Code of Fair Information Practices (1973)”?
A 1973 U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare code that is the foundation of FIPs used widely today.