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The federal government stopped using the SSAN as an identifier for their own employees years ago. It's probably well past time for legislation prohibiting anyo
by Turing_Machine 3y ago
The federal government stopped using the SSAN as an identifier for their own employees years ago.
It's probably well past time for legislation prohibiting anyone else for using it for that purpose, preferably with some teeth.
As you say, most people's SSAN has been compromised many, many times.
- lotsofpulp 3y ago> It's probably well past time for legislation prohibiting anyone else for using it for that purpose, preferably with some teeth. No, it is time for legislation prohibiting people from being held responsible for a business’s lack of due diligence. If the lender wants to use SSN to give out thousands of dollars, that is entirely on the lender. The businesses will automatically stop using mechanisms of identity verification that cause them to lose money.
- eek2121 3y agoWhile I do somewhat agree, the SSN used to be just a number that the SSA uses to identify you. It was never meant for things like credit and bank accounts.
- lotsofpulp 3y agoIs it not still that? The only problem is the government has foisted the costs of the lender’s due diligence onto the general public. If a lender wants to collect on debts, they should need more proof than an SSN/DOB combo, and no one should have to spend time correcting their credit report from no fault of their own.
- Turing_Machine 3y agoThose aren't mutually exclusive at all. You could both limit the victim's responsibility for identity theft, and prohibit businesses for using the SSAN as a means of identification, with a whopping fine attached. > The businesses will automatically stop using mechanisms of identity verification that cause them to lose money. You mean like if they were forced to pay a gigantic fine?