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 2004-01-22 monographic deposited born digital 35 p. GA 1.13:GAO-04-11 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-11 P0b002ee180396d7b f:d0411 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-11 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-11 GAO-04-11 Consumer protection Federal law Identity verification Information disclosure Privacy law Private sector practices Social security number State law Other Written Product A09140

In 1936, the Social Security Administration (SSA) established the Social Security number (SSN) to track workers' earnings for Social Security benefit purposes. However, the SSN is also used for a myriad of non-Social Security purposes. Today, public and private sector entities view the SSN as a key piece of information that enables them to conduct their business and deliver services. However, given the apparent rise in identity crimes as well as the rapidly increasing availability of information over the Internet, Congress has raised concern over how certain private sector entities obtain, use, and safeguard SSN data. In previous reports, we discussed the benefits of government and commercial entities using SSNs. We also examined how certain private sector entities and the government obtain, use, and safeguard SSNs. This report provides additional information on private sector uses of SSNs. The Chairman, Subcommittee on Social Security, House Committee on Ways and Means, asked that GAO examine the private sector use of SSNs by businesses most likely to obtain and use them including information resellers, consumer reporting agencies (CRAs), and health care organizations. Specifically, our objectives were to (1) describe how information resellers, CRAs, and some health care organizations obtain and use SSNs and (2) discuss the laws and practices relevant to safeguarding SSNs and consumers' privacy. GAO makes no recommendations. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-11/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-11.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-11/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-11.pdf GAO-04-11 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-11 Other Written Product GAO-04-11; Social Security Numbers: Private Sector Entities Routinely Obtain and Use SSNs, and Laws Limit the Disclosure of This Information; Consumer protection Federal law Identity verification Information disclosure Privacy law Private sector practices Social security number State law Title 15 Section 1681b 15 U.S.C. 1681b