3 ms·
> Why do we need strong ID so often anyway? ... To prevent identity theft?
by lou1306 5y ago
> Why do we need strong ID so often anyway?
... To prevent identity theft?
- sneak 5y agoBank fraud (a better name for it) generally does need strong ID, but the vast majority of transactions in which people are demanded to show ID to transact have nothing to do with this. You only do bank loans, mortgages, lines of credit and the like a few times per year. Your ID is demanded so often in the USA there is even a hand signal for it that everyone knows (a C shape made with the right hand held up at eye level).
- hhjj 5y agoMaybe ID is asked to feed marketing database so they can sell data about you ? In Europe we aren't asked IDs but usually email/phone numbers and that's for marketing reason (spamming and being able to identify customers cross businesses).
- _jal 5y agoAs a first step, stop giving in to the demands. I routinely refuse to provide ID when asked by private businesses. About half the time they're OK with proceeding with whatever without it.
- sneak 5y agoFirst off, you're preaching to the choir. I show ID for many fewer things than the average person, and perhaps even yourself. There are however many, many things that you are simply entirely barred from doing in the USA without showing ID. It's even worse in Europe. Many music venues (the vast majority), all federally licensed firearms retailers, almost all hotels and modes of travel. Perhaps you can live without music, air travel, hotels, and firearms, but I cannot.
- yencabulator 5y agoIn Europe, the ID you show in that situation contains no private information. Date of birth and address are not authenticators!
- sneak 5y agoAs a US citizen in Europe, the ID they require from me is a passport.