What legal protections exist for Social Security records and how do they apply to internal versus public disclosure?

Social Security records are protected by multiple legal frameworks including the Federal Privacy Act and Internal Revenue Code, which impose strict rules about information disclosure. A recent court decision highlighted an important distinction between internal agency disclosure and public disclosure of sensitive information. The court found that while public disclosure may constitute irreparable harm warranting legal intervention, internal disclosure within an agency may not meet this threshold. This distinction is significant because it allows for internal information sharing while maintaining legal protections against unauthorized public release of personal data.