The Explainer article on what the police know about people could also include credit information -- in the book Maxed Out (pp150-1 of the hardcover), the author details how Equifax has offered to put its terminals in sheriffs' offices in exchange for information from the police on their detainees. It seems a huge invasion of privacy. Not that the credit bureaus weren't already huge invasions of privacy (which is why they are illegal in France).