• Re:SS# by zapfie (Score:1) Monday August 05, @08:32AM
  • Re:SS# by Lars T. (Score:2) Monday August 05, @08:38AM
  • Re:SS# by Ryosen (Score:1) Monday August 05, @08:40AM
    • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
  • Re:SS# by TibbonZero (Score:1) Monday August 05, @08:47AM
    • Re:SS# by zapfie (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:19AM
      • Re:SS# by CokeBear (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:38AM
      • Re:SS# by TibbonZero (Score:2) Monday August 05, @12:06PM
  • Re:SS# by Heywood Yabuzof (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:10AM
  • OT: Zapf? by MCZapf (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:17PM
• ...and in Canada... by mhore (Score:1) Monday August 05, @08:32AM
• Re:SS# by bzcpcfj (Score:3) Monday August 05, @08:32AM
  • Re:SS# by JPriest (Score:1) Monday August 05, @08:36AM
    • DMV = Local Big Brother by Khan (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:43PM
  • Actually.... by Angry White Guy (Score:2) Monday August 05, @08:38AM
    • Re:Actually.... by Angry White Guy (Score:1) Monday August 05, @08:59AM
    • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

  Re:SS# (Score:5, Insightful) by Kefaa on Monday August 05, @08:47AM (#4011241) (User #76147 Info)

  "Technically, no, because you don't have to have a social security number" No longer true. When my children were born, a SSN form was required for them prior to leaving the hospital. The days of an "optional" SSN are gone.

  [ Reply to This | Parent ]

  • Re:SS# by sphealey (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:18AM
    • Re:SS# by Kid Zero (Score:1) Monday August 05, @11:07AM
      • Re:SS# by John Jorsett (Score:2) Monday August 05, @11:43AM
      • 2 replies beneath your current threshold.
    • Re:SS# by Punk Walrus (Score:1) Monday August 05, @11:51AM
    • Re:SS# by Jahf (Score:2) Monday August 05, @12:08PM
      • Re:SS# by matguy (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:09PM
        • Re:SS# by Jobe_br (Score:1) Monday August 05, @02:35PM
        • Re:SS# by Anonymous Cow herd (Score:1) Monday August 05, @04:59PM

  Re:SS# (Score:4, Informative) by shani (shaneNO@SPAMtime-travellers.org) on Monday August 05, @09:18AM (#4011378) (User #1674 Info | http://www.time-travellers.org)

  There's no law requiring children be born in a hospital. It just seems that way, in America at least. (In Holland being pregnant isn't a disease, so most women give birth at home.) You do need to have a SSN for your children in order to claim them as dependents on your taxes. When this change was introduced, there ended up being a lot less children, meaning a lot of people where cheating on their taxes.

  [ Reply to This | Parent ]

  • Re:SS# by tomstdenis (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:28AM
    • Re:SS# by cduffy (Score:2) Monday August 05, @10:01AM
      • Re:SS# by Jobe_br (Score:1) Monday August 05, @02:16PM
    • Re:SS# by njdj (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:47PM
      • Re:SS# by mikestro (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:04PM
      • Re:SS# by yakfacts (Score:2) Monday August 05, @02:34PM
      • No one shipped me, Thanks by Sibelius (Score:1) Monday August 05, @05:40PM
      • 2 replies beneath your current threshold.
    • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
  • Re:SS# by Kefaa (Score:2) Monday August 05, @10:59AM
  • Re:SS# by giminy (Score:2) Monday August 05, @01:17PM
    • Re:SS# by liquidice5 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:34PM
    • Re:SS# by lordgert (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:37PM
    • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
  • Re:SS# by bigpat (Score:2) Monday August 05, @10:24AM
    • 2 replies beneath your current threshold.
  • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
  • Re:SS# by TRACK-YOUR-POSITION (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:11AM

  Re:SS# (Score:4, Insightful) by Zathrus on Monday August 05, @09:30AM (#4011437) (User #232140 Info | http://slashdot.org/)

  Technically, no, because you don't have to have a social security number. If you're a US Citizen you do, ever since 1987 I believe. The SSN is a national ID system. Period. Anyone believing differently is fooling themselves. You have to present it to work (because of that 15% that goes *poof* out of your paycheck), you file it with your taxes, you have to give it for most bank accounts, for mortgage loans, heck, for most financial data (auto loans, credit cards, etc). Most medical plans use your SSN as your ID (or the SSN of the primary cardholder, followed by -# for others). Don't think living in an apartment means your SSN isn't on file. Most likely the apartment complex wanted to run a credit check on you to lower their risk of a bad rentor. That involved getting your SSN because your SSN is the most reliable way of uniquely identifying you in the credit bureau systems -- I know, I wrote algorithms to try and do matches without the SSN. They weren't nearly as accurate (I think the best we got to was 3 false positives out of 11 million). Anyone who's had their SSN stolen and used for identity theft can tell you just how much of a nightmare that creates. And this is largely because the SSN has evolved into a national ID without it ever having been designed as one. You can't just reel off a 9 digit number and use it as a SSN (there are check digits), but if I know your SSN then I can pass it off as my own without any additional checks.

  [ Reply to This | Parent ]

  • Re:SS# by Ark42 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:40AM
    • Re:SS# by Zathrus (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:59AM
      • Re:SS# by lightcycler (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:27PM
        • Re:SS# by BrianH (Score:2) Monday August 05, @01:01PM
        • Re:SS# by Zathrus (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:59PM
        • Re:SS# by ptbarnett (Score:1) Monday August 05, @04:33PM
        • OT: Taxes by Zathrus (Score:1) Monday August 05, @02:06PM
        • Re:OT: Taxes by Jobe_br (Score:1) Monday August 05, @02:50PM
        • Re:OT: Taxes by avdp (Score:2) Monday August 05, @04:27PM
        • Re:OT: Taxes by avdp (Score:2) Monday August 05, @04:31PM
        • Re:OT: Taxes by Zathrus (Score:1) Monday August 05, @04:51PM

  Re:SS# (Score:5, Funny) by ThereIsNoSporkNeo on Monday August 05, @09:42AM (#4011504) (User #587688 Info)

  "If you're a US Citizen you do, ever since 1987 I believe." You sure of that date? I could've sworn it was closer to 1984...

  [ Reply to This | Parent ]

  • Re:SS# by King_TJ (Score:3) Monday August 05, @12:44PM
    • Re:SS# by hyperturbopete (Score:2) Monday August 05, @01:30PM
    • Re:SS# by GrandCow (Score:2) Monday August 05, @01:48PM
  • 2 replies beneath your current threshold.
  • Re:SS# by mustangsal (Score:1) Monday August 05, @10:46AM
• Re:SS# by CptSkydrop (Score:1) Monday August 05, @08:33AM
  • Re:SS# by Neon Spiral Injector (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:15AM
    • Re:SS# by hrieke (Score:2) Monday August 05, @10:58AM
    • Re:SS# by lightcycler (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:32PM
  • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
• Re:SS# by Angry White Guy (Score:1) Monday August 05, @08:34AM

  Re:SS# (Score:5, Funny) by Safety Cap on Monday August 05, @08:38AM (#4011193) (User #253500 Info | http://www.milk.com/...urity_clearance.html | Last Journal: Monday August 05, @12:14PM)

  Thank god the government hasn't figured out the elusive secrets of table joins. Shh! Now they'll know about the secret (+) code!! Who knows what they will do with their newfound power?!

  [ Reply to This | Parent ]

  • Re:SS# by Angry White Guy (Score:1) Monday August 05, @08:49AM
    • Re:SS# by Safety Cap (Score:2) Monday August 05, @12:00PM
  • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
  • Re:SS# by avdp (Score:3) Monday August 05, @08:58AM
    • Re:SS# by Heywood Yabuzof (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:13AM
    • Re:SS# by Angry White Guy (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:16AM
      • Re:SS# by boomer_rehfield (Score:1) Monday August 05, @10:11AM
      • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
    • Re:SS# by whovian (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:28AM
      • Re:SS# by cduffy (Score:1) Monday August 05, @10:15AM
    • Re:SS# by someone247356 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:56AM
      • Re:SS# by bellings (Score:2) Monday August 05, @10:59AM
        • Re:SS# by MCZapf (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:50PM
        • Re:SS# by someone247356 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:56PM
      • Re:SS# by avdp (Score:2) Monday August 05, @04:56PM
  • IRS has figured out table joins. by peter303 (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:16AM
  • Re:SS# by crevette (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:51AM
  • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
• Re:SS# by Koyaanisqatsi (Score:2) Monday August 05, @08:34AM

Re:SS# (Score:5, Funny) by bellings on Monday August 05, @08:37AM (#4011187) (User #137948 Info)

Well, it's totally different than a social security number! For example, my social security number is only 9 digits long, not 11. And, in the United States, the social security number is never used for identification. You're only legally required to use one if you want a job, use a bank, get a loan, use a credit card, own any shares in a company (including common stock), get an identification card, go to a public school, or pay taxes. And, many private services, including insurance, video rental cards, university identification cards, and health services usually demand a SS number, although those can not legally demand one, except in a bunch of special cases which no human on earth can enumerate. So, see? They're not at all the same.

[ Reply to This | Parent ]

• Re:SS# by vmaaw224 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:29AM

Re:SS# (Score:4, Informative) by Raul654 on Monday August 05, @09:32AM (#4011448) (User #453029 Info)

IANAL (but I slept at a holiday inn last night)...   If I'm not mistaken, you don't even have to give it out in those sitations, do you? I thought that the only reason you had to give it out was for gov't and social security related items. I did a quick google search and turned up this [faqs.org] little gem.

[ Reply to This | Parent ]

• Re:SS# by Ioldanach (Score:3) Monday August 05, @10:22AM
  • 2 replies beneath your current threshold.
• Re:SS# by m0rph3us0 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @03:37PM
• Re:SS# by gtaluvit (Score:1) Monday August 05, @10:47AM
• Re:SS# by Lee164 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @11:50AM
  • Re:SS# by thopkins (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:14PM
  • Re:SS# by NMerriam (Score:2) Monday August 05, @01:58PM
• Re:SS# by wmspringer (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:37PM
  • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
• SS# & Utilities by sjbe (Score:2) Monday August 05, @02:48PM
• 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
• SS#: Not a National ID by Thenomain (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:02AM
  • Re:SS#: Not a National ID by rela (Score:1) Monday August 05, @02:18PM
• Re:SS# by whodisbe (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:42AM
• social security in Japan by ryochiji (Score:2) Monday August 05, @11:49AM
  • Re:social security in Japan by DNS-and-BIND (Score:1) Monday August 05, @04:15PM
• Re:SS# by nafmo (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:23AM
• Re:SS# by kiwimate (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:30AM
  • Re:SS# by boomer_rehfield (Score:1) Monday August 05, @10:26AM
    • Re:SS# by BrianH (Score:2) Monday August 05, @01:19PM
• Re:SS# by someone247356 (Score:2) Monday August 05, @10:43AM
• Re:SS# by Yazeran (Score:1) Monday August 05, @11:50AM
• 9 replies beneath your current threshold.

• Re:Big Brother is not only watching you... by Angry White Guy (Score:1) Monday August 05, @08:42AM
• 2 replies beneath your current threshold.

This sort of thing has been in place in many countries for quite some time. In Sweden, for example, every resident has a "personnummer" (personal number) that you use for identification purposes. It consists of your birthdate followed by another four-digit number. And the US has their Social Security number.

So what I'm interested in is, what's the problem?

Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think (Score:5, Insightful) by SeeFood on Monday August 05, @08:47AM (#4011237) (User #2713 Info | http://ira.abramov.org/)

exactly. Israel Has it, I'm sure most of Europe has that. it's been that way for well over half a century, get REAL. how else are you counted as a citizen? given a voting right? accepted to schools, and government benefits? accepted to work and fill out the tax forms? The idea that frightens Americans is not being tagged - come on, the idea of a society with no tagging of who's a member is as rediculous as saying you don't need to release memory when you program. Memory leaks anyone? when we are talking about a country, you are facing problems of population density calculations, which effect infrastructure development, housing, roads, schools, fire stations, everything. you have to keep track, otherwise you break into chaos and people are born and die without anyone taking care of it. What I think Americans are afraid is the fact that the big brother(s) -NSA, CIA, FBI, whoever, are crossing the information. well ofcourse they are, and have been for years, and they will continue to do it efficiently with or without national ID. it's their JOB. it MAY make their job a little easier, but not by much really. I appreciate the anarchistic spirit, but it's kinda impossible to maintain a nation and an economy without numbers and tags, or you end up back in the good old wild west. the fact it's not happening is because the system already exists. the fact you are not carrying an ID card in your pocket does not mean you were not assigned one and cross-linked in all the government databases.

[ Reply to This | Parent ]

• Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by evbergen (Score:1) Monday August 05, @10:19AM
• Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by cduffy (Score:2) Monday August 05, @10:45AM

Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think (Score:4, Insightful) by Guppy06 on Monday August 05, @10:50AM (#4011892) (User #410832 Info | Last Journal: Friday May 17, @06:05PM)

"how else are you counted as a citizen?" The census, every four years "given a voting right?" Voter registration, facilitated by a piece of mail sent to me proving that I live in said voting district "accepted to schools," Becoming a legal resident in state X, also facilitated by a piece of mail. "come on, the idea of a society with no tagging of who's a member is as rediculous as saying you don't need to release memory when you program. Memory leaks anyone?" The US is a heck of a lot more immigrant-friendly than European countries and we don't see as much need to prevent "memory leaks" as you seem to. Most Americans would rather have a few people sneak into the system than to have a national ID card. "when we are talking about a country, you are facing problems of population density calculations, which effect infrastructure development, housing, roads, schools, fire stations, everything. you have to keep track" Again, we have a census every four years. "otherwise you break into chaos and people are born and die without anyone taking care of it." That's why states give out birth and death certificates. "What I think Americans are afraid is the fact that the big brother(s) -NSA, CIA, FBI, whoever, are crossing the information. well ofcourse they are, and have been for years," Apparently you don't understand the concept of interservice rivalry... "the fact it's not happening is because the system already exists." If it already existed there wouldn't be so many pushes in Congress to pass new legislation creating it.

[ Reply to This | Parent ]

• Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by keefebert (Score:2) Monday August 05, @11:16AM
  • Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by Guppy06 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:47PM
    • Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by keefebert (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:54PM
      • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
  • Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by keefebert (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:50PM
    • Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by Che Geuvarra (Score:1) Monday August 05, @03:25PM
      • Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by keefebert (Score:1) Monday August 05, @03:59PM
  • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
• Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by dramaley (Score:1) Monday August 05, @02:16PM
  • Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by Guppy06 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @03:45PM
    • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
• Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by Debillitatus (Score:2) Monday August 05, @04:08PM
• Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by Mr. Slippery (Score:1) Monday August 05, @05:01PM
• Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by Guppy06 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:54PM
• 2 replies beneath your current threshold.
• Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by cduffy (Score:1) Monday August 05, @10:51AM
  • [OT] When not to collect garbage by yerricde (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:13PM
    • Re:[OT] When not to collect garbage by cduffy (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:15PM
• Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by Negadecimal (Score:2) Monday August 05, @02:23PM
  • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
• 3 replies beneath your current threshold.
• Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by Tikiman (Score:2) Monday August 05, @08:48AM
• Finland and Sweden are very different from the US by SgtChaireBourne (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:09AM
• Apparently it is about what government you have. by Dog and Pony (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:31AM
  • Re:Apparently it is about what government you have by cduffy (Score:1) Monday August 05, @02:27PM
• Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by dnoyeb (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:41AM
• Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by T.Tuomi (Score:1) Monday August 05, @11:21AM
• Re:Not As Big A Problem As You May Think by Anonymous Coward (Score:1) Monday August 05, @08:48AM
• 3 replies beneath your current threshold.

Tell me, how does Japan's ID plan affect their privacy any more than the US social security number system affect ours (in the US)?

• Re:Too much concern? by freeefalln (Score:1) Monday August 05, @08:42AM
  • withholding SSN by TamMan2000 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:02AM
• Re:Too much concern? by thisisnotmyid (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:43AM

• Re:No, we won't by Koyaanisqatsi (Score:1) Monday August 05, @08:41AM
  • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
• Re:No, we won't by Woggle (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:51PM
• 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

• 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

• Re:Cool... by thopkins (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:38PM
• 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

• 2 replies beneath your current threshold.

• Re:Continental Europe had had this for ages... by sql*kitten (Score:2) Monday August 05, @11:24AM
  • Re:Continental Europe had had this for ages... by xr6791 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:27PM
    • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
  • Re:Continental Europe had had this for ages... by Kidbro (Score:2) Monday August 05, @01:36PM
  • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
• Re:Continental Europe had had this for ages... by pjgeer (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:05PM
• 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

• Re:I've seen it in movies ... by bowronch (Score:2) Monday August 05, @08:44AM
• Re:I've seen it in movies ... by bowronch (Score:1) Monday August 05, @11:28AM
• 2 replies beneath your current threshold.

"How much longer until we see something like that in the U.S.?"

What do you mean, "when"? It's called the Social Security Number, or more accurately these days, "Taxpayer Identification Number". And besides just name, address, date of birth and gender, it's tied to your employment history (in governemnt databases), credit history, medical history, and tons more (in "private" databases).

• 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

• 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

• Re:Sounds like the danish system. by rodac (Score:1) Monday August 05, @08:53AM
  • Re:Sounds like the danish system. by Shinobi (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:23AM
  • Re:Sounds like the danish system. by muffel (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:23AM
    • Re:Sounds like the danish system. by dastrike (Score:1) Monday August 05, @10:32AM
      • Re:Sounds like the danish system. by Shinobi (Score:1) Monday August 05, @10:41AM
• Re:Sounds like the danish system. by Guanix (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:44AM
  • Re:Sounds like the danish system. by Hektor_Troy (Score:2) Monday August 05, @10:51AM
• Re:Sounds like the danish system. by n-baxley (Score:3) Monday August 05, @09:49AM
  • Re:Sounds like the danish system. by Hektor_Troy (Score:3) Monday August 05, @10:10AM
• Beware. by hateddamntruth (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:55AM
  • Re:Beware. by Hektor_Troy (Score:2) Monday August 05, @10:07AM
• Trusting the Danish CPR (Was: Sounds like the...) by skidt og kanel (Score:1) Monday August 05, @11:34AM
• Re:Sounds like the danish system. by CoreyG (Score:3) Monday August 05, @12:14PM
• What about "non-gender" people? by peter303 (Score:2) Monday August 05, @01:50PM
  • Re:What about "non-gender" people? by Hektor_Troy (Score:2) Monday August 05, @02:49PM
• Re:Sounds like the danish system. by Hektor_Troy (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:03AM
  • Re:Sounds like the danish system. by PainKilleR-CE (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:45AM
    • Re:Sounds like the danish system. by Hektor_Troy (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:57AM
  • Re:Sounds like the danish system. by Rich0 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @11:32AM
    • Re:Sounds like the danish system. by Hektor_Troy (Score:2) Monday August 05, @12:56PM
• Re:Sounds like the danish system. by Guanix (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:39AM
• Re:Sounds like the danish system. by Hektor_Troy (Score:2) Monday August 05, @11:16AM
• IE required? Not for me by yerricde (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:34PM
• 4 replies beneath your current threshold.

• Re:This is good by Hektor_Troy (Score:2) Monday August 05, @08:47AM
• Re:This is good by Tar-Palantir (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:13AM
  • Re:This is good by n-baxley (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:52AM
    • Re:This is good by someone247356 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @11:41AM
      • Re:This is good by n-baxley (Score:2) Monday August 05, @11:50AM
• Re:This is good by A55M0NKEY (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:55AM
• This is bad. by Fross (Score:2) Monday August 05, @10:08AM
  • Bad? Oh, come on... by Balinares (Score:2) Monday August 05, @11:42AM
• Re:This is good by Fruit (Score:1) Monday August 05, @10:13AM
  • Re:This is good by camken (Score:1) Monday August 05, @04:54PM
• Re:This is good by Peter H.S. (Score:3) Monday August 05, @10:55AM
  • Good post. Thanks. by Fantastic Lad (Score:2) Monday August 05, @01:14PM
• Re:This is good by mother_superius (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:01PM
• Re:This is good by lildogie (Score:2) Monday August 05, @02:35PM
• 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

• 10^11th power by iamwoodyjones (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:10AM
  • Won't take too long. by SoSueMe (Score:1) Monday August 05, @10:00AM
• Re:They'll need more than 11 #'s! by bluGill (Score:2) Monday August 05, @11:50AM
  • Re:They'll need more than 11 #'s! by Saeger (Score:2) Monday August 05, @12:58PM
  • 1 reply beneath your current threshold.
• Re:They'll need more than 11 #'s! by isorox (Score:2) Monday August 05, @03:44PM
  • Re:They'll need more than 11 #'s! by Gaurang (Score:1) Monday August 05, @05:30PM
    • Re:They'll need more than 11 #'s! by isorox (Score:2) Monday August 05, @05:45PM
• Re:They'll need more than 11 #'s! by ArcadeNut (Score:2) Monday August 05, @04:13PM
• 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

I actually think this is a good idea.

People in the U.S. gripe about identity theft left and right. Part of the reason it's so easy to perform identity theft is that while a social security number is tied to a person, it's only tied by the fact it was assigned. Remember, we recycle these stupid numbers.

I have a Finnish ID number as well, since I lived there for quite some time. That one actually makes sense. It's my birthday in DDMMYY form, plus three digits and a letter. That identifies where I was born, when I was born, and my gender. It's not exactly easy to steal from people, since it really is tied to the person, not simply assigned.

Technically in Finland, you don't have to give out the number, but in reality you use it for a number of things. The cool part is that they write down the last part (the three digits and letter) when checking credit cards, lessening credit card fraud. Anyone remember when they used to check stuff here in the U.S.?

<example_id>040463-395F</example_id>

• Re:Get used to it by n-baxley (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:54AM
  • Re:Get used to it by dastrike (Score:1) Monday August 05, @10:11AM
  • Re:Get used to it by breezer (Score:1) Monday August 05, @10:51AM
• Re:Get used to it by breezer (Score:1) Monday August 05, @10:35AM
• Re:Get used to it by hyperturbopete (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:36PM

• 1 reply beneath your current threshold.

• Government Personal Info. and Commercial Personal by budalite (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:08PM
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As a belgian citizen, I've been living with a mandatory national ID card for all my life (well, from age 12 anyway). This card holds my names, adress, name of wife and kids, a national ID number (birth date + some digits) and a picture. Is that national ID card an infringement on my privacy? NO!

I use the card to identify with state services such as when I want a copy of an official document, when I go vote, etc.; when requested by the police, for banking purposes: I have to show my ID card before doing a withdrawal at the bank, to create a new bank account, ... But NOTHING besides that.

Does my governement keep all this data in a database. Sure they do. What do they do with that? Most certainly nothing.

I fail to understand how you all people see this as an end to privacy. It's your government after all, they're supposed to know who's living where, who voted (voting is mandatory here). There's no pretending you're someone else than you, because that ID card is mandatory and there's a picture of you on it. So you can't pose as someone else (and someone can't pose as you).

Do you remember the story of that wife who kept being arrested because she shared the same name as a wanted criminal? That could never happen with a national ID card, because all she'd have to do was present it and be left alone.

National ID cards are GOOD, not bad.

• Link by Saib0t (Score:2) Monday August 05, @08:54AM
• Re:Too much fuss by Dave Bailey (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:00AM
  • Mod this parent up, please by Silverhammer (Score:2) Monday August 05, @10:22AM
  • Re:Too much fuss by Saib0t (Score:2) Monday August 05, @11:01AM
    • Re:Too much fuss by Tralfamadorian (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:22PM
• Re:Too much fuss by MtViewGuy (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:17AM
  • Re:Too much fuss by Twylite (Score:2) Monday August 05, @10:02AM
    • Re:Too much fuss by someone247356 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:21PM
      • Re:Too much fuss by Twylite (Score:2) Monday August 05, @04:42PM
  • Re:Too much fuss by Saib0t (Score:2) Monday August 05, @11:16AM
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Re:Too much fuss (Score:5, Insightful) by cduffy ({ten.pocmaps} {ta} {todhsals+yffudc}) on Monday August 05, @10:24AM (#4011718) (User #652 Info)

I fail to understand how you all people see this as an end to privacy. It's your government after all, they're supposed to know who's living where, who voted (voting is mandatory here). Since when was it my government's job to know anything about me? My government's job is to offer services to the public -- law enforcement, fire protection, roads, public education, that sort of thing. Good government is the servant of the people, not their master. Anything which upsets this order is dangerous in the extreme.

[ Reply to This | Parent ]

• Re:Too much fuss by keefebert (Score:1) Monday August 05, @11:10AM

Re:Too much fuss (Score:5, Insightful) by Saib0t (saibot.hesperia-mud@org) on Monday August 05, @11:26AM (#4012121) (User #204692 Info | http://www.hesperia-mud.org/)

Since when was it my government's job to know anything about me? My government's job is to offer services to the public -- law enforcement, fire protection, roads, public education, that sort of thing. Good government is the servant of the people, not their master. Anything which upsets this order is dangerous in the extreme. Examples of needs to know where and who you are: - You didn't pay your taxes and left the place you lived in. As a responsible citizen, you're supposed to. The government needs to know where you are. - You're elligible for a tax rebate: Where does the government send it to? - A criminal decided to kill you. He does but the governement doesn't know where you are. - A fire in the woods is coming near your house, you live in the basement of your hut in the forest, the fire brigade needs to know to warn you. - You just turned 100 (congratulations, by the way). You don't have to pay any taxes anymore, you weren't aware of that, but you receive a letter in the mail from the gov to inform you of that nice situation. - You kidnapped 7 girls, the FBI finds traces of your DNA on the location the rapts were made. Now they know where you (used to) live to start looking for clues as to where the girls are. The list goes on, there are plenty of cases where the government needs to know about you... The job of the government is to serve you, but to do that, the government needs to be aware of your existence and your whereabouts. If you don't trust your governement, maybe is it a sign that you need another one...

[ Reply to This | Parent ]

• Re:Too much fuss by cduffy (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:12PM
• This idiot modded up to +5 ? Are you all INSANE!? by Fantastic Lad (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:34PM
  • Re:This idiot modded up to +5 ? Are you all INSANE by Saib0t (Score:1) Monday August 05, @05:08PM
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• you answered the question. by No-op (Score:2) Monday August 05, @03:41PM
• ID numbers for collecting tax by seichert (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:05PM
  • Re:ID numbers for collecting tax by Saib0t (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:23PM
• Re:Too much fuss by zurab (Score:1) Monday August 05, @03:24PM
  • Re:Too much fuss by Saib0t (Score:2) Monday August 05, @05:22PM
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• Re:What's wrong with a national ID? by Cyclone66 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @08:51AM
  • Re:What's wrong with a national ID? by TRACK-YOUR-POSITION (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:15AM
    • Re:What's wrong with a national ID? by Cyclone66 (Score:1) Monday August 05, @02:09PM

• Re:IPv6? by Chexsum (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:16AM
  • Re:IPv6? by Boss, Pointy Haired (Score:1) Monday August 05, @10:03AM
• Re:IPv6? by nigelc (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:47PM

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Portuguese laws forbid different entities from cross-referencing their databases, without explicit approval of the citizens. The way it is written, it even affects different departments of the state -- leading to a social security number, a tax ID number, etc.

I think it is a lot worse the way its done in the US, where everyone and their dog knows your SS#. It is very easy to cross-reference the DBs. At least here, they'd need to do some data mining...

• Actually we Brits have two ID numbers by rpjs (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:31AM
  • Re:Actually we Brits have two ID numbers by KatieL (Score:1) Monday August 05, @11:51AM
    • Re:Actually we Brits have two ID numbers by rpjs (Score:1) Monday August 05, @12:41PM
• Re:I never understood American fear ... by truesaer (Score:2) Monday August 05, @10:14AM
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• Re:Benefit--voter registration by sqlrob (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:12AM
  • Re:Benefit--voter registration by tetranz (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:57AM
  • Re:Benefit--voter registration by PMuse (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:28PM
• Re:Benefit--voter registration by smithmc (Score:1) Monday August 05, @01:20PM
• Re:Benefit--voter registration by Sentry21 (Score:2) Monday August 05, @03:07PM
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• Re:What's everyone worried about? by InternalWave (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:53AM
  • Re:What's everyone worried about? by altgrr (Score:1) Monday August 05, @10:39AM
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Re:What's everyone worried about? (Score:4, Insightful) by BlackHawk on Monday August 05, @10:37AM (#4011809) (User #15529 Info | http://bobjames.freeservers.com/)

I find it far more of an invasion of privacy that my telephone and e-mail contacts are abused by people or companies wanting to sell their wares for me. The only reason we might be afraid of a centralised data repository is that it could be hacked. I would contend that, providing appropriate measures are taken, and that photographs are not stored on the database, there is nothing to be afraid of. I suppose it's too much to hope you're joking. Out of curiosity, where do you think those telemarketers and spammers are getting your contact information in the first place? There are several states (Michigan comes to mind immediately) that have no law prohibiting the state government from selling the data they collect to any business who buys it. The fear that the centralized databased could be cracked is actually minor. After all, why break in, when you can slip the doorman a large enough payment, and have him open the door for you? In addition, given the current climate of terror running amuck in the US ever since 9-11 and the passage of the so-called Patriot Act, there will be little resistance in the halls of the legislature to idea of some kind of biometric data attached to the central record. Whether that's a photo, a retinal print or a genetic sequence would remain to be seen.

[ Reply to This | Parent ]

• Re:What's everyone worried about? by altgrr (Score:1) Monday August 05, @11:01AM
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A recent survey in the Netherlands however showed some cases where is not used enough. A simple coupling of some databases showed that some ID's were used by up to 100 illegal workers and that some ID holders were being treated in three hospitals simultaneously.

• Re:Sweden have this. by dastrike (Score:1) Monday August 05, @09:43AM

Read the rest of this comment...

The government says it has created a security system that can detect suspicious access to the database.

"It's quite common to feel uneasy about something new. We want to keep explaining until such anxieties disappear," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda.

(It's "quite common to feel uneasy" about being rounded up in railway cars, too, big fellah. Just to let you know.)

Man, we need to get some advice from the government of Japan. A totally secure system. Impressive.

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• Re:Don't bother, Big Brother's not for tomorrow... by acceleriter (Score:2) Monday August 05, @09:18AM

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The system will link basic residency registries across the country by encoding information such as people's names, addresses, dates of birth and gender under 11-digit individual numbers. It will enable people to receive social benefits, such as children's allowances and pensions, without their resident cards, the government said. Officials also said the network will simplify administrative procedures, such as passport issuance, in the future.

• Re:The reason for the hubbub by BJH (Score:1) Monday August 05, @02:00PM