What is the main principle guiding the sharing of sensitive information about offenders under the Privacy Act?

The main principle under the Privacy Act guiding the sharing of sensitive information about offenders is that it can only be shared when justified. This principle is rooted in the need to protect individuals' privacy while balancing the necessity of information sharing for public safety, law enforcement, or rehabilitation purposes.

According to the Privacy Act, the sharing of personal information must be carefully considered and justified based on specific criteria. For instance, if sharing is essential for preventing a crime, ensuring public safety, or fulfilling a legal obligation, then it may be permissible. This approach underscores the importance of limiting access to personal data to situations where it is necessary and lawful, thereby protecting individuals' rights while still enabling necessary law enforcement and correctional functions.

The other choices do not align with the guidelines set forth in the Privacy Act, as freely sharing sensitive information without justification would undermine privacy protections, sharing with the public would typically violate confidentiality, and stating that the information is completely confidential disregards the situations in which sharing is deemed appropriate and justified.