United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2002-04-29 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:GAO-02-691T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-691T P0b002ee180374ff2 f:d02691t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-691T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-691T GAO-02-691T Intergovernmental relations Internet Public records Right of privacy Social security number Social Security Program Testimony A03196

The Social Security numbers (SSN), originally created in 1936 to track workers' earnings and eligibility for Social Security benefits is now used for many other purposes by both government and private sectors. The growth in electronic record keeping and the availability of information over the Internet, combined with the rise in identity theft, have heightened public concern about how their SSNs are being used. Federal agencies use SSNs to manage records, verify the eligibility of benefit applicants, collect outstanding debts, and do research and program evaluation. GAO found that federal laws designed to protect SSNs are not being followed consistently, Moreover, courts at all levels of government and offices at the state and county level maintain records that contain SSNs for the purpose of making these records available to the public. Recognizing that these SSNs may be misused, some government entities have taken steps to protect the SSNs from public display. At the same time, however, some government entities are considering making more public records available on the Intranet. Ease of access to electronically available files could encourage more information gathering from public records on a broader scale than possible previously. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-691T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-691T.htm GAO-02-691T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-691T Testimony GAO-02-691T; Social Security Numbers: SSNs Are Widely Used by Government and Could Be Better Protected; Intergovernmental relations Internet Public records Right of privacy Social security number Social Security Program Title 5 Section 552a 5 U.S.C. 552a Title 7 Section 2025 7 U.S.C. 2025 Title 20 Section 1090 20 U.S.C. 1090 Title 26 Section 6109 26 U.S.C. 6109 Title 31 Section 7701 31 U.S.C. 7701 Title 38 Section 510 38 U.S.C. 510 Title 42 Section 1320b Title 42 Section 3543 Title 42 Section 405 Title 42 Section 666 42 U.S.C. 1320b 42 U.S.C. 3543 42 U.S.C. 405 42 U.S.C. 666