Normally it needs permission of the individual or a court order. Some records can be looked at by the government folks w/o permission, but even then, permission was given, in effect, when the loan was made. However that's a "for specific uses" only thing.
I dunno. All kinds of people are accessing my records all the time, and I've never given them any permission. I don't have student loans, but it seems like everybody and his brother know my CC balances. I probably signed something somewhere a long time ago, but it is really irritating how much nosy people know. And every time I have refinanced my house, it appears in the newspaper, just as if I have purchased a new house. I even gets congratualtory cards from people.