A U.S. federal law regulating access to and use of consumer credit information.
Definition
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal statute that governs how consumer credit information, including credit reports and related data, may be collected, accessed, used, and shared by consumer reporting agencies and users of such information. It sets standards for accuracy, fairness, and privacy, and requires disclosures and permissions for certain uses of consumer reports, especially in employment and tenant screening.
Why It Matters
In public records and OSINT research, the FCRA restricts when and how consumer credit and background information can be accessed and used, particularly for screening employment or tenancy, ensuring the rights and privacy of individuals are protected while enabling legitimate investigative uses.