Social Security Numbers: Governments Could Do More to Reduce Display in Public Records and on Identity Cards

Citation
Government Accountability Office, Social Security Numbers: Governments Could Do More to Reduce Display in Public Records and on Identity Cards (GAO-05-59) (Nov. 9, 2004) (full-text).

Overview
The widespread use of SSNs by both the public and private sectors and their display in public records have raised concern over how SSNs might be misused and how they should be protected. In light of this concern, the GAO was asked to examine (1) the extent to which SSNs are visible in records made available to the public, (2) the reasons for which governments collect SSNs in records that display them to the public, and (3) the formats in which these records are stored and ways that the public gains access to them.