: Information can be withheld if it relates to: National security/classified info. Internal personnel rules. Information protected by other laws. Trade secrets or confidential business data. Privileged inter-agency/intra-agency memos. Personal privacy (personnel/medical files). Law enforcement records. Financial institution reports. Geological data (wells).
The article (or section) requires federal executive branch agencies to disclose records and information to the public upon request, unless the information falls under one of nine specific exemptions. Key Components of § 552 : Information can be withheld if it relates
In the context of United States federal law, is the proper citation for the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) . Trade secrets or confidential business data
: If an agency improperly withholds records, individuals can file a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, where a judge reviews the case de novo (anew). Law enforcement records
: While § 552 covers public information, the very next section— 5 U.S.C. § 552a —is the Privacy Act of 1974 , which governs how the government handles personal information about individuals.