Assess Anonymous Sources — Assess Anonymous Sources

Evaluating the credibility of anonymous sources is a key step in verifying public allegations. In federal privacy law, the disclosure of personal records generally requires the consent of the individual, subject to specific exceptions.

The Privacy Act of 1974 outlines twelve distinct exceptions to this 'No Disclosure without Consent' rule, which are reviewed by the Department of Justice. Understanding these strict legal standards for disclosing individual records highlights the importance of identifying who is sharing sensitive information.