Slashdot Mirror
Supreme Court To Hear SSN Privacy case
Chope writes "In the flurry of end-of-term US Supreme Court decisions, some may have overlooked a case the Court agreed to take for the term beginning in the fall 2003. The Court is finally going to consider the ramifications of government requests for and subsequent disclosure of your social security number.
The law in question is the 1974 Privacy Act, which places restrictions on how the government (federal, state, and local) can request individuals' SSNs. A good source of background information is Chris Hibbert's SSN FAQ and his Privacy Act Background. While the Privacy Act put bounds on the when and how the SSN may be requested and also required the government to protect the information collected, the Privacy Act established no penalties if the government failed to protect the data. The Court will decide if individuals must prove they were harmed in order to receive compensation, or if the government's mere (?!) release of information is sufficient grounds to award damages.
The story, an AP wire by Gina Holland, appeared in today's (28-June-2003) Portland Oregonian but doesn't yet appear on their website. Google isn't returning much at this point, either. The Supreme Court's website has only the barest information. The case is Doe (pseudonym) v. Chao, docket 02-1377. Doe was a coal miner who's SSN was used by the state of Virginia to track Black Lung disease cases. Virginia later published reports of the cases, including the SSNs. The 4th Circuit ruled against Doe in October 2002."
...and make private companies accountable as well. Say what you will, I haven't had much trouble from government agencies so far when it comes to disclosing my SSN to anyone they shouldn't have, or without my permission. I'd me much more worried about all those credit reporting bureaus like Experian, whom neither did I ask to collect my data, nor to sell it to anyone pretending to be my employer or creditor. Those firms should be held accountable to at least the same level as the government institutions.
Think about it. If the government wasn't already careful in protecting your personal data, there wouldn't be a need for the credit bureaus.
Have EVDO, will travel.