51.   In refusing to identify the civilians, government officials have said their identities were protected by privacy laws.

52.   In Europe, where strict privacy laws have been in effect for nearly a decade, privacy officers are much more common.

53.   It has often focused on the government, earning a pit-bull reputation in fights over export controls on computer security technology or Internet privacy laws.

54.   It is expected to be a contentious issue, with most of the public calling for stricter privacy laws.

55.   Letters from federal agencies insisted that U.S. privacy laws required the signatures of representatives of the Islamic Jihad or Hezbollah before the information could be released to him.

56.   Likewise, the IRS declined comment, citing federal privacy laws.

57.   Lt. Gen. Ronald R. Blanck, the Army surgeon general, said privacy laws prevented him from talking about specifics of the Clark case.

58.   Mark Wentworth, spokesman for the U.S. Embassy, said Thursday he was unable to provide details about the hostages because of of privacy laws.

59.   Military officials would not release the hometowns of those charged, saying the matter comes under privacy laws that preclude such public release.

60.   Museum officials there, citing Belgian privacy laws, refused to say whether he had lent any of the allegedly stolen icons they displayed.