* DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act)
* Purpose: The DMCA makes it illegal to violate copyrights by disseminating digitized material.
* Explanation: The DMCA was enacted in 1998 to address the issues of digital rights management and copyright infringement in the digital age. It provides legal protection to copyright holders against unauthorized copying, sharing, and distribution of their digital works. The legislation criminalizes the production and dissemination of technology, devices, or services intended to circumvent measures that control access to copyrighted works (commonly known as DRM- Digital Rights Management).
DMCA Overview - U.S. Copyright Office
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
Purpose: Prohibits agencies from distributing an individual's health information without the individual's consent.
Explanation: HIPAA, enacted in 1996, is designed to protect individuals' medical records and other personal health information. The Privacy Rule under HIPAA sets standards for the protection of health information by health plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and healthcare providers that conduct certain healthcare transactions electronically. It mandates the protection and confidential handling of protected health information (PHI).
References: HIPAA Privacy Rule - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) Purpose: Gives students the right to access their own educational records and prevents schools from distributing student records without permission.
Explanation: FERPA is a federal law enacted in 1974 that protects the privacy of student education records.
It grants parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records, which transfer to the student when they reach 18 years of age or attend a school beyond the high school level. FERPA requires that schools must have written permission from the student or parent to release any information from a student's education record.
References: FERPA Regulations - U.S. Department of Education