As an employee of the Federal Government, I became familiar with the Privacy Act of 1974 and is various revisions over the years.  As a Computer Specialist, I became very acquainted with its provisions.  How many people know that this is one of the few Acts that protect ONLY Federal Employees?  How many people know that it refers to ANY number used to identify people in databases (not just the Social Security Number)?  Why not the SSN?  Because a.) that number belongs to the Social Security Administration and, b) the SSA has said it is NOT an identity number.