Date: Thu, 08 Apr 93 13:40:14 EST Errors-To: Comp-privacy Error Handler From: Computer Privacy Digest Moderator To: Comp-privacy@PICA.ARMY.MIL Subject: Computer Privacy Digest V2#031 Computer Privacy Digest Thu, 08 Apr 93 Volume 2 : Issue: 031 Today's Topics: Moderator: Dennis G. Rears Re: Computer Privacy Digest V2#030 ssn issue Availability of Records What can "they" do with my SSN? Re: Information privacy and applying for an apartment [Christina Cole: Email Privacy] The Computer Privacy Digest is a forum for discussion on the effect of technology on privacy. The digest is moderated and gatewayed into the USENET newsgroup comp.society.privacy (Moderated). Submissions should be sent to comp-privacy@pica.army.mil and administrative requests to comp-privacy-request@pica.army.mil. Back issues are available via anonymous ftp on ftp.pica.army.mil [129.139.160.133]. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 02 Apr 93 06:26:08 PST From: Dave Gomberg Subject: Re: Computer Privacy Digest V2#030 In reply to Hans Lachman and why a SSN is needed to rent an apartment, he should know that an SSN saves about $30 in getting a credit check (the $30 is for getting his SSN). Wouldn't he think it abusive if he didn't give his number, and then was charged an extra $30 and they had it anyway?? And if they can't find it, they won't get a credit check and he won't get the apt. Refusing to give it out is just not reasonable IN THIS CASE. The reason that a landlord wants a credit check is that he is getting into a potential creditor relationship with a tenant if the tenant doesn't pay rent. I managed a 12 unit building for four years. In that time, I had two SERIOUS deadbeats. I needed all the credit tracking info I could get. To me that means (1) birthdate (not for ageism, some credit folks want it as an additional identifier) (2) SSN (3) Calif. driver's license number. If needed, I could go into detail about how each is used. On a related subject, my retirement system (from which I am retired) has just asked me to reaffirm my SSN, birthdate. They want it notarized. My question is why? I bet they want to know if I am still alive and they should be paying benefits. But Mother Mary, who that was faking being still alive would not know what SSN and birthdate to put, and couldn't fake the signature before a notary. Give me a break! Question: What proof SHOULD they ask that I am still alive? I was not able to come up with a good answer to that. I would think maybe a police affidavit would be most appropriate. Or maybe from the county clerk? Or Dept. Motor Vehicles? Or ??? Dave Gomberg, role model for those who don't demand much in their fantasy lives GOMBERG@UCSFVM Internet node UCSFVM.UCSF.EDU fax-> 7797 Seven Gateview Court, San Francisco CA 94116-1941 voice-> (415)731-7793 ------------------------------ From: Dave Subject: ssn issue Date: 2 Apr 93 16:52:14 GMT Organization: Intergalactic Rest Area For Weary Travellers how would a person go about looking at public records for a ssn ? I would like to be able to review my publicly held records, and if there is a ssn on some records that should not be there, I would like to go about getting it removed, thats another good question, how does one go about removing ssn refrences from public documents ? and don't say, "give me your ssn and I will do it for you' :-) ;-) on the other side, my employer requires my ssn on my picture identification badge, I have spoken to the security manager about this. drew on some of the issues from the ssn article posted here recently. he agreed to issue me another company id badge without my ssn on it. now to try to make it company policy. another question would be what is proper to put in the ssn field on this type of id, it wouldnt look good to security where I work to have blank spaces on my ID, It would look even worse to have a refused in the ssn field. what is a proper filler ? what got me scared with my work id is that is has my picture, full name and ssn on it. if I lost my ID someone could easily have my name and ssn to do with what they want. e.g. make me liable for their earnings thanks much for letting me have my 2 cents worth. -David =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= China Cat BBS c-cat!david@sed.csc.com (301)604-5976 1200-14,400 8N1 ...uunet!mimsy!anagld!c-cat!david =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Apr 93 15:34 EDT From: Rasch@dockmaster.ncsc.mil Subject: Availability of Records I am interested in learning whether anybody has done some comprehensive research on whether journalists (or anyone else) have lawful access to the following in all 50 states (or federally): (1) Police criminal history records (rap sheets) which are printed out by name of accused (2) Police blotter information -- records of arrest, conviction, relelease, etc. (3) Arrest reports and backup documents (4) Department of Motor Vehicle records (5) Police intelligence files In essence, my question is this -- if the police provide any or all of this information to a reporter doing a story, have either or biootht of them committed a crime? ------------------------------ From: David Hoffman Subject: What can "they" do with my SSN? Date: 2 Apr 93 02:06:35 GMT Distribution: usa Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University. After reading many articles here about how not to give your SSN away, it occurs to me that I don't know WHY I shouldn't give it away. What can some third party do with my SSN that I wouldn't like? I think every credit card company in the world probably knows mine by now. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Apr 93 21:21:31 EDT From: Brinton Cooper cc: comp-privacy@PICA.ARMY.MIL Subject: Re: Information privacy and applying for an apartment Organization: The US Army Research Laboratory Hans Lachman asks for articles depicting risks to private individuals when their privacy rights are abused through divulgence of their SSN. The situation he cites involves whether he should have to give an apartment rental agent his SSN. I should know this, but I don't: Is the SSN required for obtaining reports from credit reporting bureaus? _Brint ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Apr 93 21:25:42 EDT From: Brinton Cooper cc: comp-privacy@PICA.ARMY.MIL Subject: [Christina Cole: Email Privacy] Organization: The US Army Research Laboratory Christina Cole seeks information from/about employees whose "... private email messages had been intercepted by their supervisors..." and what to do if/when this occurs. Actually, the thing to do is not to send "private" e-mail on a computer owned by someone else and provided solely so that the employee can do the employer's (i.e., owner's) work more efficiently. Those of us who insist on the right to privacy of e-mail should sign up with services such as CompuServe. You may not be physically more secure, but you have a clear expectation to privacy when the service is being provided for YOUR convenience. _Brint ------------------------------ End of Computer Privacy Digest V2 #031 ******************************