Date: Fri, 06 Nov 92 17:01:34 EST
Errors-To: Comp-privacy Error Handler <comp-privacy-request@PICA.ARMY.MIL>
From: Computer Privacy Digest Moderator <comp-privacy@PICA.ARMY.MIL>
To: Comp-privacy@PICA.ARMY.MIL
Subject: Computer Privacy Digest V1#097
Computer Privacy Digest Fri, 06 Nov 92 Volume 1 : Issue: 097
Today's Topics: Moderator: Dennis G. Rears
SSN and studying
Re: Clinton Endorses Right to Information Privacy
Re: Blockbuster announces plan to use data from video rentals
Re: public access to state info
Re: How could grades be used against me?
Re: Blockbuster announces plan to use data from video rentals
Re: ssn and traffic tickets
Re: Computer Privacy Digest V1#096
The Computer Privacy Digest is a forum for discussion on the
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Chris Nelson <nelsonc@colossus.cs.rpi.edu>
Subject: SSN and studying
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1992 20:12:50 GMT
Today, I planned to meet a friend at the campus library to study. So
that we wouldn't disturb others, I stopped at the front desk to
reserve a study room. The form I was given had a blank for "SSN".
I know that RPI uses the social security number as a student ID for
most non-foriegn students and am accustomed to the staff's failure to
distinguish between SSN and student ID number (a rather non-PC,
non-multicultural affront to our guests, I'd say). To combat this
failure, I make a point of asking anyone who asks for my "sosh"[sic]
if what they want is my student ID number.
In this case, I was told that, no, what they needed was my SSN as that
was what the Bursar billed by and they considered that number security
against damage to the room, failure to return the key, etc. Setting
aside, for the moment, the fact that I could trash a large part of the
library outside the study rooms without giving anyone my student
number (or any other form of ID), WHY ON EARTH SHOULD I HAVE TO GIVE A
LIBRARIAN MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER TO STUDY WITH A FRIEND IN THE
LIBRARY?!?
If you read this on rpi.general, I'm very interested in your comments.
If you read this on c.s.p, it's a flame or an anecdote as you wish to
interpret it; I'm sorry if I'm wasting bandwidth (and I guess I'd
welcome your comments, too).
Chris
--
------------------------------+----------------------------------------------
Chris Nelson | Rens-se-LEER is a county.
Internet: nelsonc@cs.rpi.edu | RENS-se-ler is a city.
CompuServe: 70441,3321 | R-P-I is a school in Troy!
------------------------------
From: "Wm. L. Ranck" <ranck@joesbar.cc.vt.edu>
Subject: Re: Clinton Endorses Right to Information Privacy
Date: 4 Nov 92 20:41:54 GMT
CPSR (cpsr@csli.stanford.edu) wrote:
:
: Excerpts from - Clinton/Gore Campaign Pledges Strong Consumer
: Protections; Blasts Bush/Quayle Record - Oct. 26
:
: * * *
: A Clinton/Gore Consumer Bill of Rights will include:
:
: 1. The Right to Safety - To be protected against the
: marketing of goods which are hazardous to health or
: life.
While the other stuff on the list doesn't bother me this one sure does.
Basically it says that the government knows what is good for me and will
not let me decide. How long till this results in making alcohol and
tobacco illegal? How long till it makes "dangerous" recreational activity
illegal? "Sorry, skis and ski poles are dangerous, you can't buy them
anymore."
If a product is possibly dangerous then requiring some reasonable labeling
is fine, but to "protect" the public from what is considered dangerous is
not.
--
*******************************************************************************
* Bill Ranck ranck@joesbar.cc.vt.edu *
*******************************************************************************
------------------------------
From: Ted Lemon <mellon@ncd.com>
Subject: Re: Blockbuster announces plan to use data from video rentals
Date: 3 Nov 92 17:55:36 GMT
nolan@helios.unl.edu (Michael Nolan) writes:
>Well, you have to use your drivers license to get a Blockbuster card, and
>they don't handle X rated movies, much less 'adult' movies. (At least,
>that's how it works in Lincoln, NE.)
That's the way it works in the Bay Area, too. BlockBuster Video seems to
be a pretty puritan company - they won't even provide some pretty mainstream
but controversial movies. They don't seem to have a problem with female
nudity, but if there are nude males in your flick, forget it.
Needless to say, Blockbuster does not get my business. If you don't like
their business practices, whether they have to do with privacy issues or
censorship issues, I suggest that you vote with your pocketbook. :'>
_MelloN_
--
mellon@ncd.com uunet!lupine!mellon
Member of the League for Programming Freedom - to find out how software
patents cost you your right to program, please contact league@prep.ai.mit.edu.
------------------------------
From: Doctor Math <root@sanger.chem.nd.edu>
Subject: Re: public access to state info
Organization: University of Notre Dame
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 22:05:56 GMT
In article <comp-privacy1.94.6@pica.army.mil> "Harry I. Rubin" <harry@tenet.icsi.berkeley.edu> writes:
>From the article, it sounds like they have had security problems with
>the public access terminals for a while. The "solution" the state
>developed is to require people to identify themselves by some sort of
>sign-on procedure to look up license plate numbers; "that does provide
>at least some tracking of inquires," according to one official.
The state of California is now issuing laminated plastic drivers licenses
with a magnetic strip on the back. When using terminals at the DMV, you
have to swipe your card through to identify yourself. This would seem to
provide an adequate amount of authentication.
------------------------------
From: PaussaVC@ssd0.laafb.af.mil
Subject: Re: How could grades be used against me?
Date: Thu, 05 Nov 92 17:22:00
>> [_Brinton Cooper <abc@brl.mil>]
> [In the November, 1992, issue of ONLINE, "Information America: A Tool..]
> 'we investigated an entire jury's background before the members were
even selected.'
>> [elee@bonnie.ics.uci.edu]
> [This is part of the ICS 131 bboard posting requirement.]
> Who do you wish to hide your grade from? I don't see how someone else's
knowledge about my grades could be used to my disadvantage or advantage;
Eric J. Lee
The people of Los Angeles rioted when they felt they had been excluded from
the jury system. Perhaps, if you discovered that lawyers screened juries on
the basis of grades, (or used grades as an indicator of intelligence) you
would be more concerned. I have spoken to lawyers who routinely excuse
educated people from juries due to a belief that they are too [unpredictable]
in their decisions.
-vcp
-jurys- the basis of our system of justice.
------------------------------
From: "Peter L. Rukavina" <csplr@trentu.ca>
Subject: Re: Blockbuster announces plan to use data from video rentals
Date: 4 Nov 92 15:50:31 GMT
Organization: Trent University, Ontario
In article <mellon.720813336@pepper> mellon@ncd.com (Ted Lemon) writes:
>nolan@helios.unl.edu (Michael Nolan) writes:
>>Well, you have to use your drivers license to get a Blockbuster card, and
>>they don't handle X rated movies, much less 'adult' movies. (At least,
>>that's how it works in Lincoln, NE.)
>
>That's the way it works in the Bay Area, too. BlockBuster Video seems to
>be a pretty puritan company - they won't even provide some pretty mainstream
>but controversial movies. They don't seem to have a problem with female
>nudity, but if there are nude males in your flick, forget it.
Here in Peterborough, Canada, Blockbuster bought out the Major Video
company, another chain of superstores. The interesting thing is that
the Major Video people had a really good store -- lots of "foreign"
films, seemingly no eveil censorship and good employee relations. When
Blockbuster came along they seemed to have a policy of hiring only men
(all of the "dressed as they were" men/women employees under Major were
replaced by IBMesque male droids in blue shirts and ties) and of
carrying only the most mundane movies.
But this is about provacy, isn't it... :-)
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 92 02:56:23 GMT
From: news@cbnewsh.att.com
Subject: Re: ssn and traffic tickets
Organization: New Jersey Re-Education Facility for the Differently Clued
: In Alabama, your SSN is printed on your driver's license.
: It's *not* the DL#, but it is printed on the card itself.
: How many other states also have the SSN printed on the license?
In Virginia your drivers license number *is* your SSN.
Various other states also were mentioned as one or the other.
If you look at the Federal Privacy Act of 1974 and the amendments in ~1985,
you'll find that they authorize a few specific uses of the SSN,
forbid non-authorized uses, and place a whole pile of requirements on
government organizations that ask for the SSN, such as privacy act notifications.
They *can* demand the number, and use it for internal purposes,
but they *can't* print it on your license if you object, though you
often need to do a lot of arguing to get them to follow the law.
Sometimes the phrase "are you aware that the Federal Privacy Act of 1974
permits fines of $5000 for individual government employees who violate
Social Security Number privacy laws?" will get their attention,
or will at least get bureaucrats to call their boss.
This may not work with cops, since they're perfectly happy to take you
down to the police station to talk to their supervisor,
leaving your car by the side of the road to be towed away as "abandoned",
so you're probably better off not remembering too well.
I had a go-round with the New Jersey motor vehicle droids about SSNs on licenses.
Providing the number used to be voluntary, and if you gave it to them
they printed it "for your convenience". My license came up for renewal just
after the law changed to make it mandatory , but before they changed
their computer software not to print the number. The clerk was very
hostile when I suggested that obeying Federal law was more important
than obeying bureaucratic procedures, and told me to use the pay phone to
call her supervisor. N levels of uncooperative bureaucrats later, ...
"I'd like to talk to your supervisor"
"I AM the supervisor"
"You mean there's nobody above you I can talk to?"
"That's right, I'm the top guy."
"Wow, Governor Kean, it's nice to meet you!"
"<grumble grumble> ok, let me get our lawyer on the line"
The lawyer was reasonable, and said that they knew had a legal problem,
but they were having trouble getting their software contractor to do
_anything_ right so this would take a while, so we compromised on
letting the hostile clerk cross out the number heavily before
transferring the printout to the photo license.
Of course, once they've got your number, they're unlikely to lose it,
so you've got to protect it from the beginning.
--
# Pray for peace; Bill
# Bill Stewart 908-949-0705 wcs@anchor.att.com AT&T Bell Labs 4M312 Holmdel NJ
# Nov 12 - Anniversary of Indonesian massacre in East Timor, 1991
# Indonesia first invaded in 1975, and about 1/3 of the people have been killed.
------------------------------
From: Jim Budler <jimb@silvlis.com>
Subject: Re: Computer Privacy Digest V1#096
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 22:44:03 -0800 (PST)
: In article <comp-privacy1.94.5@pica.army.mil>, Eric Hunt <bsc835!ehunt@uunet.uu.net> writes:
: >> In article <comp-privacy1.92.6@pica.army.mil> fns-nc1!fns-nc1.fns.com!vib@concert.net (Victor Bur) writes:
: >> As for traffic tickets, I don't think it's illegal to forget your SSN
: >> and to not have it written down anywhere handy. Just tell the cop he
: >> will have to forgive your traffic infraction because your SSN is not
: >> available.
: >
: >In Alabama, your SSN is printed on your driver's license. It's *not* the
: >DL#, but it is printed on the card itself.
: >
: >How many other states also have the SSN printed on the license?
: It's on my Tennessee driver license, called as "audit number". :-((((((
There was a period when it was on the California drivers license. But it
stopped being on mine a least two licenses ago, about 8 years ago.
When it first appeared on my license, long before I entered the era
of answering "Why do you need to know?" to the request for my SSN, I
thought it meant I no longer had to stuff an extra ID in my wallet.
Of course, since my drivers license now has a mag stripe on the back,
how long is it before the grocery store starts swiping it through the
cash register to validate a check?
jim
------------------------------
End of Computer Privacy Digest V1 #097
******************************