Companion legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate that would prohibit direct marketers from using Social Security numbers without a person’s permission.
The Privacy and Identity Protection Act (HR-4857 and S-2876), introduced last week, would ban federal and state agencies from including a person’s Social Security number in any lists that are rented or sold to third parties such as list companies, mass mailers and direct marketers.
The legislation would limit the use of these numbers to federal benefits only and would prohibit them from being used to verify a person’s identity in a broad spectrum of commercial activity, particularly when purchases are made by check or credit card.
In addition, states would be prohibited from including Social Security Numbers on driver’s licenses or motor vehicle registrations and they could not be printed on checks.
Law enforcement, public health officials and researchers would have access to the numbers when necessary providing they do not “harass, target or publicly reveal information concerning any identifiable individuals,” according to the legislation.
The legislation was introduced by Rep. Clay Shaw (R-FL) and Sen. James Bunning (R-KY). Rules and regulations implementing the law are to be developed and enforced by both the Social Security Administration and the Federal Trade Commission.
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