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

They already do allow that for free

[bigtallmofo]

Can the states force the credit reporting agencies to allow citizens to lock their credit reports?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=how+to+freeze+credit+report

This is already available, and it's free. Just like opting out of marketing offers.

Re:They already do allow that for free

[Ambiguous Puzuma]

The fees (if any) associated with credit freezes vary from state to state.
http://www.consumersunion.org/campaigns/learn_more/003484indiv.html

The problem is...

[afabbro]

• It is very difficult to change your SSN. No, being a victim of identity theft and having money stolen from your accounts is not sufficient reason.
• SSNs are often available even from people who've been careful.

To take a simple example: until 5-10 years ago, it was common to list SSNs in divorce filings. Get divorced and your SSN was listed in the filings, which are public records and can be looked at by anyone. Even today, in some states, you have to file a motion to have the SSN suppressed from the public version (routinely granted, but still it illustrates how common SSN publication is).

Publishing SSNs found in public certainly advertises the problem, but it also creates problems for innocent, even cautious people who have no way of fixing them.

Of course, the real problem is why we have tied so much personal information to a single government-issued number...perhaps because it's the only nationally unique identification number issued by the Federal government...

Re:It's sad this had to go to court.

[TubeSteak]

The ends don't justify the means. She's trying to advocate privacy by decreasing individual's privacy if I'm understanding this. She's saying "this is wrong that your social security number is printed on X public document, so I'm going to post it online to dramatically increase the amount of people who can see it and increase your chances of identity theft."

You missed one important detail.
The records she is putting up on her website are already online.
That pretty much knocks the bottom out of your argument.

Re:How about something better?

[rgviza]

>After all, why should *I* pay for the fact that some bank lends money to someone who says it's me ?

You don't.
You will get a collection call.
At that point, you can ask them to fax you a copy of the signature they have, where you agreed to the credit contract.

They won't have it. Then you call the bureaus, and request your free copy of the report. When you get it, call back and talk to someone on the phone. They'll take it right off your report.

It took me less than an hour each of the 3x that Household Bank got ripped off by someone using my info. Never paid a single penny...

-Viz

Re:How about something better?

[Matt Perry]

But I live above my means, because I don't pay interest on things I don't need. I don't buy things before I can afford them.

You mean you live below your means. If you lived above your means, you'd be spending more than you earn.