2 ms·

Just because a company wants to know who you are doesn’t mean they are entitled to a scan of a sensitive government document that can be used to commit identity

by p-e-w 3mo ago

Just because a company wants to know who you are doesn’t mean they are entitled to a scan of a sensitive government document that can be used to commit identity theft. I’m amazed that it is even legal for businesses to ask for that at all, outside of a few exceptional cases of which “I want to rent a server” most certainly isn’t one.

throw1234567891 3mo ago
They ask me for it when I need a sim card. What is the difference.
- inigyou 3mo ago
  None, and I think it's actually the very same law, all internet connections must be KYCed.
msdz 3mo ago
> I’m amazed that it is even legal for businesses to ask for that at all, outside of a few exceptional cases of which “I want to rent a server” most certainly isn’t one. How about the case of “I want to rent a server to distribute illicit and or dangerous materials and then it’s your problem”?
- areoform 3mo ago
  > How about the case of “I want to rent a server to distribute illicit and or dangerous materials and then it’s your problem”? Why would it be? And are we going to use "because terrorism" card on HN?
  - msdz 3mo ago
    Yeah, I think that’s the one case where it’s actually appropriate to use that card. Like it or not, banks are legally mandated to do KYC, and this is essentially the same, except for information or communication being “moved” instead of money.
    - inigyou 3mo ago
      It's a foreign concept to Americans but in Europe everyone is supposed to be able to be held accountable. That means a lot more things are KYC. You need ID to get a SIM card or a drone.
  - Ralfp 3mo ago
    Why can't they say "we got payments from this and this payment card" and then they can follow up with the bank?
gmueckl 3mo ago
It's rather an indicator of a system that is so broken that a digital copy of a single form of ID document is sufficient to impersonate someone well enough to do financial damage.

by p-e-w 3mo ago

throw1234567891 3mo ago

They ask me for it when I need a sim card. What is the difference.

inigyou 3mo ago
None, and I think it's actually the very same law, all internet connections must be KYCed.

msdz 3mo ago

> I’m amazed that it is even legal for businesses to ask for that at all, outside of a few exceptional cases of which “I want to rent a server” most certainly isn’t one. How about the case of “I want to rent a server to distribute illicit and or dangerous materials and then it’s your problem”?

areoform 3mo ago
> How about the case of “I want to rent a server to distribute illicit and or dangerous materials and then it’s your problem”? Why would it be? And are we going to use "because terrorism" card on HN?
- msdz 3mo ago
  Yeah, I think that’s the one case where it’s actually appropriate to use that card. Like it or not, banks are legally mandated to do KYC, and this is essentially the same, except for information or communication being “moved” instead of money.
  - inigyou 3mo ago
    It's a foreign concept to Americans but in Europe everyone is supposed to be able to be held accountable. That means a lot more things are KYC. You need ID to get a SIM card or a drone.
- Ralfp 3mo ago
  Why can't they say "we got payments from this and this payment card" and then they can follow up with the bank?

gmueckl 3mo ago

It's rather an indicator of a system that is so broken that a digital copy of a single form of ID document is sufficient to impersonate someone well enough to do financial damage.