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From: jfw@neuro (John F. Whitehead)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: Social Security numbers
Message-ID: <21979@duke.cs.duke.edu>
Date: 15 Feb 91 22:15:20 GMT
References: <4611@orchid12.UUCP> <1991Feb1.034754.24237@lavaca.uh.edu> <1991Feb7.010214.24736@nuchat.sccsi.com>
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In article <4611@orchid12.UUCP> motcid!ellis@chg.mcd.mot.com 
    (John T Ellis) writes:

>	3. Currently, it is NOT illegal for anyone to ask you for your SS#.
>	   However, it IS illegal for them to refuse you service if you do 
>	   not give it to them.  If you encounter any problems with this, you
>	   are asked to contact the nearest SS office and report the offence.

This is not exactly true.

In article <1991Feb1.034754.24237@lavaca.uh.edu> jet@karazm.math.uh.edu 
    ("J. Eric Townsend") writes:

>I'd love to be able to say "Law <foo> says otherwise.  Refuse me service
>and I win the suit, guaranteed."

I wanted to do the same, but apparently we have no protection.  I spoke to
the North Carolina Civil Liberties Union (part of the ACLU) about this at 
length because I was ticked off from being refused service twice in one week
--  I wouldn't give my SSN to a credit card company and to an insurance
company because I thought "Law <foo>" applied.

It turns out that the laws (most recently revised at length in 1976) only
protect you from giving your SSN to certain *public* agencies.  You are
required to give your SSN to government agencies dealing with tax matters,
state driver's license applications, and several others.  Public agencies
not included in this list can not force you to give your SSN, or to refuse
you service for withholding it.

Private companies, however, are not required to abide by the Privacy Act
(just like they do not have to abide by constitutional requirements that
apply to the government).  If they want to make your SSN a requisite for 
an application for credit card, or insurance, or whatever, then they can.
If you don't like it, then you have the option of going to a different 
company.  Of course, I don't know if there are any illegalities about
giving them a fictitious SSN, but that probably won't help your credit
report...

There doesn't seem to be enough people concerned about this to make a
change to cause the private sector to not ask your SSN.  Several people
I've spoken to say "what's the big deal".  The people at the insurance
place I went to were furious that I was hesitant to give them my SSN.
One woman stood up and went to report to her boss, and the other
lectured me that my SSN was "public knowledge".  

By now everyone is probably cross-referenced enough that they can figure
out your SSN anyway.  Say "welcome" to Big Brother...

    John Whitehead                     Internet:  jfw@neuro.duke.edu
    Department of Neurobiology                    jfw@well.sf.ca.us
    Duke University Medical Center     Bitnet:    white002@dukemc           
    Durham, North Carolina