On two successive days, the Deseret News ran editorials related to privacy that called attention to the harm done by commercial credit reporting bureaus because of irresponsible collection and reporting of data and expressed concern over the potential loss of privacy by the federal government's use of the "clipper chip" in electronic communications.
Of all threats to privacy, the greatest occurs from commercial credit reporting where the law allows credit "spies" to maintain a portfolio on individuals and business organizations based on Social Security numbers for sale to any party willing to pay the price.The people of the United States would be well served if Congress or the state legislatures prohibited the use of a Social Security number by or for any nongovernmental purpose. The law should make such request or use a felony.
The law should further make it a felony for any credit bureau or similar organization to maintain an informational portfolio on any individual or organization without the specific written consent of the person or entity being reported on.
This would not preclude credit reporting, but it would take place with the consent of the person requesting the service. A portfolio of unknown content and location classified under a Social Security number (which was created for a totally different purpose) could not exist.
If we object to government eavesdropping by means of the "clipper chip," we should likewise vigorously object to the use of the government-mandated Social Security infrastructure as a key tool of commercial espionage.
Lorin N. Pace
Salt Lake City