The Privacy Act regulates how federal agencies may use the personal information that individuals supply when obtaining government services or fulfilling obligations -- for example, applying for a small business loan or paying taxes. The General Accounting Office (GAO) was asked to review, among other things, agency compliance with the Privacy Act & related guidance from the office of Management & Budget (OMB). GAO recommends that the Dir., OMB, take a number of steps aimed at improving agency compliance with the Privacy Act, including overseeing & monitoring agency actions, reassessing the need for additional guidance to agencies, & raising agency awareness of the importance of the act.