What is the health information technology for economic and clinical health (hitech) act? a law requiring that telecommunications carriers and equipment makers take steps to facilitate the electronic surveillance activities of law enforcement agencies. a standard issued in august 2007 to enforce the standardization of security identification credentials for government employees and contractors. this standard covers both physical and logical access to government resources. law that expanded and updated the civil and criminal penalties and requires notification if any breach occurs causing the disclosure of phi. legislation passed in 1996 that protects the privacy and accessibility of health care information.