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Why Google Wants Your Kid's SSN

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the hello-toby-from-madison dept.

Jamie found a somewhat creepy story about a kid's art contest run by Google. As part of the entry, they need the last 4 digits of a social security number. The article suggests that the information requested by the contest should make it possible to guess at, and compile a list of children's social security numbers. It's bizarre and worth your read.

3 of 391 comments (clear)

  1. TL;DR Version by The+MAZZTer · · Score: 4, Informative

    Google's already removed the field from a newer version of the entry form. will not store any collected numbers, and has explained the need for the city of birth (to help prove US citizenship as required by the contest).

    1. Re:TL;DR Version by Renderer+of+Evil · · Score: 4, Informative

      Except that neither city of birth nor SSN are indicators of citizenship / residency.

      This reminds me of the wifi data gathering operation where they amassed all this information "by mistake."

  2. Re:Kids shouldnt even have SSI numbers by olsmeister · · Score: 4, Informative

    They need to have SSN numbers as children so that they may be claimed as tax deductions by their parents.