[LINK] Number One Privacy Debacle

Marghanita da Cruz marghanita at ramin.com.au
Thu Oct 19 14:50:30 AEST 2006


Karl Auer wrote:
> This was Number One in the Privacy Debacle Hall of Fame in 2003:
> 
> 1. The creation of the Social Security Number: 
> Although security blogger Adam Shostack is known for his expertise on
> information-age data leaks, he considers the creation of the Social
> Security Number in 1936 to be the "largest privacy disaster in the
> history of the U.S." Referencing controversy over the card's creation at
> the time, he said, "Ironically, privacy advocates warned that the number
> would become a de facto national ID, and their concerns were belittled,
> then proven right, setting a pattern that still goes on today."
> 
> See http://www.wired.com/news/politics/privacy/0,71622-0.html

In Australia, it was probably the Golf Link Project, where Golf Clubs
handed over their member details to Citibank, who was funding the Online
Golf Handicap database who then wrote to all handicapped golfers, 
offering them a combined handicap access
card/credit card in return. You have to admire the Ingenuity!

M

-- 
Marghanita da Cruz
Ramin Communications
http://www.ramin.com.au/
Phone: 0414-869202
Email: marghanita at ramin.com.au









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