State Cannot Force Removal of SSNs From Privacy Advocate's Site

jvatcw brings us a story about Betty Ostergren, who operates a website dedicated to pointing out the social security numbers visible in public records. The purpose of the site is to raise awareness of privacy concerns regarding the personal information shared in Virginia's governmental websites. Legislation was introduced in Virginia to combat Ostergren's website, but last Friday a judge shot down the attempt to censor her, writing, "It is difficult to imagine a more archetypal instance of the press informing the public of government operations through government records than Ostergren's posting of public records to demonstrate the lack of care being taken by government to protect the private information of individuals."

Comments

Meanwhile...

[bigtallmofo]

In other news, the IRS reports that they are finally cracking down on long-time tax evader Betty Ostergren for failure to report as income the $10 her grandmother gave her in a birthday card in 2005. Ms. Ostergren faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $300,000.

Re:There is a credit freeze. Parent right.

[roaddemon]

I didn't pay any credit cards for a year, now I have an old fashioned credit freeze.