Despite advice that the number "is your identity" and has been shown to be a foundation for identity crime, the number is used as the default personal identifier in settings that include
- filling out health formsThe authors comment that -
- identifying laundry
- checking out basketballs, racquets or towels at the gym
- getting a flu shot
- buying a pair of pants at a ship's commissary
- identity cards borne by children of military personnel.
the military services lag a decade or more behind best practices found in other sectors of government, industry, and academia in the proper use and handling of PII [Personally Identifiable Information]. While positive progress has been made by the services, such progress is slow, ad-hoc, frequently ignored, and overshadowed by the common usage of the Social Security number as a way of tracking and identifying individuals. The systemic leakage of personal information in day to day operations, and a pervasive attitude of disregard for personal privacy is unsettling. Such issues are not tolerated outside the military - the time for substantive change within the military has arrived.
The problem of PII use has broad implications because the impact is felt by uniformed service members as well as government civilians, family members, and contractors, all of whom are compelled to disclose their Social Security number and incur the risk that it will be further disclosed, intentionally or unintentionally, without their knowledge or consent. The Federal Trade Commission, the United States Government’s lead agency in preventing identity theft, states “Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give your Social Security number only when absolutely necessary, and ask to use other types of identifiers.” This guidance is impossible to follow within the military given the pervasive and compulsory use of the Social Security number.
There are some who believe that disclosing one’s Social Security number or birth date is harmless, however, this view is patently incorrect. An individual’s Social Security number combined with their date of birth provides access to one’s identity. Scammers, identity thieves, and other criminals can use this information to commit a wide variety of crimes including opening new credit card accounts, generating credit reports, taking over existing accounts, or as a way to shield their true identity when arrested for a crime. There is even a recent trend where criminals will use the Social Security number of children as a means of stealing an untainted credit history.
Fixing the damage caused by identity theft is imperfect, stressful, expensive, and time consuming. Accounts must be closed and credit reports fixed through long and painful processes. Innocent individuals are subject to harassment by collection agencies. The cost is high in terms of time and frustration. The problem is magnified when an individual is deployed, allowing much damage to occur without their knowledge, or if known, serves to place additional stress on already strained families. Unlike a password which can be routinely changed, our Social Security number and date of birth are meant to be with us for life. Thus, disclosure of this information places us at risk for life; in fact some identity theft even occurs after death, creating immense problems for surviving family members.
