Governmental Regulation of Privacy Essay -- Expository Essays Research

Governmental Regulation of Privacy Many laws have been enacted by the government to regulate privacy. One piece of data that is used to uniquely identify people is the Social Security Number. Surveillance in the United States began mostly with the Social Security Act of 1935 when Social Security was used to track people's earnings and to pay retirement benefits. The government was the only group able to access the information. However, today the Social Security card can get someone credit cards and driver licenses enough for someone to steal an identity. The Privacy Act of 1974 created a law to help protect citizens from the government abusing its privileges. The Privacy Act requires State and Local authorities to tell the individual three things when requesting the Social Security Number. One is if the disclosure is mandatory or voluntary. Two: what is the status or other authority the Social Security Number is solicited, like what other government agencies it is being provided to? Lastly, what uses will be made of the number by the agencies? ( http://www.cpsr.org/cpsr/privac...