"Numerous federal government agencies are collecting and sifting
through massive amounts of personal information, including credit
reports, credit-card purchases and other financial data, posing new
privacy concerns, according to the General Accounting Office (GAO).
The GAO surveyed 128 federal departments and agencies and found that 52
are using, or planning to implement, 199 data-mining programs, with 131
already operational."
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040528-122605-9267r.htm