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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988
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A quick definition of Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988:
The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 is a law that allows government agencies to compare computerized records to check if someone is eligible for benefits or to recover payments on benefits. This means that they can use computers to see if someone is getting welfare payments while also having a job, or if both parents are claiming the same child on their tax returns after getting divorced. The law has some rules to protect people's privacy.
A more thorough explanation:
The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 is a law that allows government agencies to compare computerized records to determine eligibility for benefits or to recover payments on benefits. This act has certain limitations to protect privacy.
Computer matching is the process of comparing computer records in two separate systems to determine if the same record exists in both systems. For example, the government uses computer matching to:
- Find people who are both employed and receiving welfare payments
- Find instances where both divorced parents are claiming the same child on their income-tax returns
These examples illustrate how computer matching can help identify cases of fraud or abuse in government programs.