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Politics
Bill opens Social Security access
By STEVE BOUSQUET
Published April 19, 2007
TALLAHASSEE - Without debate, the Legislature is poised to pass a law that gives private companies continued access to individual Social Security numbers for business purposes. A bill that sped through a House council Wednesday re-enacts a 5-year-old law that restricts public access to Social Security numbers, and a similar bill awaits a Senate vote. Florida's public records exemptions are periodically reviewed and re-enacted by lawmakers. The 2007 version contains provisions favored by lobbyists for banks, credit card companies, news media organizations and for-profit data "aggregators" such as ChoicePoint and Lexis-Nexis. They depend on Social Security numbers found in all kinds of government records to provide accurate data to banks, police agencies and other clients. Businesses say they need continued access to the unique nine-digit numbers they mine from numerous government records to verify identities, run credit checks and track sex offenders. Florida's support of allowing broad commercial access to Social Security numbers pits personal privacy against the speed with which consumers expect to transact commerce. The information industry says consumers worry about a breach of privacy, yet demand instant credit approval when they buy a car. Business lobbyists said the law is tightly written to prevent abuses, that state agencies must tell the Legislature who wants the information, and that they knew of no cases of identity theft in Florida linked to commercial use of Social Security numbers. The only opposition so far is from the Florida League of Cities, which urged the Legislature to allow commercial access to "truncated" numbers the first five digits to give individuals a little more privacy. Businesses opposed that. Scott Dudley, a lobbyist for cities, said a person who gives a Social Security number to a city official for, say, a utility hookup, may not be aware that a private company can get access to it. "We think it's bad for consumers. It makes people's Social Security numbers essentially public records," Dudley said. Dudley said the bill's worst loophole is an overly broad definition of who can get the numbers, which includes "any enterprise, franchise or association that performs a commercial activity in this state," which Dudley defined as a one-man lawn mower service. The bill (GEAC 07-08) states in part: "An agency [of state government] may not deny a commercial entity engaged in the performance of a commercial activity access to Social Security numbers, provided the Social Security numbers will be used only in the performance of a commercial activity." A business must sign a written statement stating why it needs the number and how it will be used. Bulk sales of Social Security numbers are prohibited. Steve Bousquet can be reached at bousquet@sptimes.com or (850) 224-7263.
[Last modified April 19, 2007, 02:00:23]
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by JIM
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04/20/07 02:32 PM
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Tar & feather all politians who vote for this and place their S.S.numbers on the list.
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by william
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04/19/07 06:01 PM
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i think it sucks we are being screwed and should be stoped
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by csd
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04/19/07 05:27 PM
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For all you people that are mad about this--call your state legislator today and raise hell. I like Bob Ryleys idea---Email the SSN of your local legislator to everyone you know!! :)
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by Bob
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04/19/07 04:34 PM
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My number is not to be used for identification, but if the legislators include a guarantee that any fraudulent use of identity is paid for out of their own pockets - they're going to approve it anyway.
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by Mark
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04/19/07 02:05 PM
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SSN's are essential for background checks, pre-employment screening and credit checks. Do you want to deal with a pedophile coach or rapist carpet cleaner? Wake up!
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by Gilbert
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04/19/07 01:11 PM
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it is nobody business what my socila security number is. unless they want to pay my taxes on social security also pay my benefits. why don't the so called govt. officals take care of the people in florida. not the big business. like i said.bull-cra
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by Bob Ryley
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04/19/07 12:58 PM
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Why is everyone upset. This is the perfect tool to get back at Politicians. Take their ID and go have some fun. Jeb, Mel are yo numbers going to be on that list? Can't wait...
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by Linda
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04/19/07 12:55 PM
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No doubt this legislature was bought and paid for by the banks. Pay attention to the false need to have our medical records available electronically, just another way to extract personal information. Never use your SSN for medical records!
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by Donald
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04/19/07 11:48 AM
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Throw ALL the bums out of office !! We are being sold down the river !!
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by GLADYS
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04/19/07 11:01 AM
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YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING. GIVING COMPANIES ACCESS TO OUR SSN# SO LET'S HAVE PEOPLE THEN START USING THIS BY CREATING FAKE BUSINESS AND STEAL OUR SSN # FOR THERE BENEFIT!
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by Loren
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04/19/07 10:50 AM
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BALONEY!!!! This is just another way politicians fatten their own pockets!
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by Sandy
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04/19/07 10:25 AM
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I will sue if my identity is compromised.
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by John
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04/19/07 09:15 AM
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does this negate the mandated redaction of SSN county recorders? What is their liability if they can't supply the SSN because of the redaction? Commercial business win because their pack money and funding election contributions.
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by Barry
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04/19/07 07:11 AM
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The social security act was originally passed only, with the promise that the number would never be used to identify individuals. We need to get back to that idea.
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