A bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives that would restrict the sale and public display of Social Security numbers. Violators would face criminal penalties.
Sponsored by Rep. E. Clay Shaw Jr. (R-FL), H.R. 2036 would also seek to restrict the dissemination of Social Security numbers by credit-reporting agencies.
If passed, the legislation would authorize the U.S. attorney general to restrict the sale and purchase of the numbers in the private sector, published reports said. It would make it harder for businesses to deny services to people who refused to provide their Social Security numbers. The law would not affect the use of Social Security numbers to enforce child support payments.
A nearly identical bill was introduced in the Senate earlier this month.
In yet another blow to marketers this month, a federal judge ruled that financial institutions may not sell customers’ personal information without their consent (see DIRECT Newsline, May 9).
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