"The consolidation of government records equals more government power that can be abused. Different government agencies necessarily collect information to provide essential services or collect taxes. The danger comes when the government begins pooling that data and using it for reasons unrelated to the purpose it was collected.
Imagine, for instance, a scenario where a government employee could be denied health-related public services or support because of the information gathered about them by an agency that handles HR records. Or a person’s research topic according to federal grants being used to weigh whether or not that person should be allowed to renew a passport.
Marginalized groups are most vulnerable to this kind of abuse, including to locate individuals for immigration enforcement using tax records. Government records could also be weaponized against people who receive food subsidies, apply for student loans, or take government jobs.
Congress recognized these dangers 50 years ago when it passed the Privacy Act to put strict limits on the government’s use of large databases. At that time, trust in the government eroded after revelations about White House enemies’ lists, misuse of existing government personality profiles, and surveillance of opposition political groups."
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/06/dangers-consolidating-all-government-information
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