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The Privacy Act of 1974 is significant as it primarily grants individuals greater control over the information that the federal government gathers about them. This legislation was enacted to safeguard personal data by instituting regulations that govern the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of personally identifiable information by federal agencies.

Under the Privacy Act, individuals have the right to access records maintained about them, request corrections to these records, and be informed of how the information will be used. This law is crucial in promoting transparency and ensuring that individuals are aware of the data collected about them and can manage their privacy rights effectively.

The other options focus on specific types of records or control that fall outside the scope of the Privacy Act. For example, while the law addresses the handling of personal data, it does not specifically grant individuals control over financial records, access to criminal history, or medical records, as those areas are often governed by other laws and regulations, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act for financial records or HIPAA for medical information.