From: jfricker@vertexgroup.com (John F. Fricker)
Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 11:31:15 +0800
To: Jamie Zawinski <jwz@netscape.com>
Subject: Re: SSNs (was Re: Internal Passports)
Message-ID: <2.2.32.19960806003317.00a56cac@vertexgroup.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


At 12:59 PM 8/5/96 -0700, you wrote:
>Black Unicorn wrote:
>> 
>[ ...random losers asking for your SSN... ]
>> > I was horrified and gave a random number.
>> 
>> You should always be horrified, and always give a random number.
>
>Well, it would be nice if it was that easy.  You (legally) need to give
>the correct one to anyone who has to make a report about you to the IRS,
>right?  Such as your employer.  But it's not always clear who else needs
>it. 

Originally the 1939 ('37?) Social Security Act explicitly stated that the
SSN could not be used for anything except SSA matters. Times apparently have
changed or perhaps it's just de facto legislation by complicity.