From: believer@telepath.com Subject: IP: ID proposal raises privacy concerns Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 17:30:47 -0500 To: believer@telepath.com Source: Fox News - AP ID proposal raises privacy concerns 2.15 p.m. ET (1816 GMT) September 17, 1998 WASHINGTON (AP) Lawmakers raised loss-of-privacy objections Thursday to a proposal that would use Social Security numbers to help curb the number of illegal immigrants who unlawfully get government benefits. The proposal by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would require federal agencies to accept, as proof of identity, a driver's license that conforms to certain standards. A Social Security number would be among the requirements. Rep. David McIntosh, R-Ind., said the measure "appears to create a de facto national ID card'' for all Americans. "With a Social Security number, anyone can find out almost anything about an individual on the Internet, including where he or she lives,'' said McIntosh, who chairs the House Government Reform and Oversight's subcommittee on national economic growth. "This technology gives stalkers and abusers easy access to their victims.'' During a committee hearing on the proposal, Celene Cross described how someone fraudulently used her name and Social Security number to obtain credit cards and rack up more than $17,000 in charges. Cross said she has spent three years trying to clear her credit history but problems continue to arise, and "I have just quit applying for credit altogether.'' Marvin Young, another panel witness, told lawmakers how a former roommate used his Social Security number to assume his identity and open more than 40 charge cards. "I've worked hard and never made a late payment in my life, but this other guy has just messed up everything for me,'' Young said. In a statement submitted to the committee, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said its proposal is intended to "prevent the use of state driver's licenses and other identification documents by illegal immigrants seeking to obtain benefits under federal programs.'' © 1998 Associated Press. All rights reserved. ----------------------- NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ----------------------- ********************************************** To subscribe or unsubscribe, email: majordomo@majordomo.pobox.com with the message: (un)subscribe ignition-point email@address ********************************************** www.telepath.com/believer **********************************************