I feel safer now. The
New York Times is reporting that the Social Security Administration has relxed it's privacy policy and is now allowing the FBI to search the files of my 70 year old dad and everyone else who has a Social Security Number, which is almost everyone.
The privacy policy typically bans the sharing of such confidential information, which includes home addresses, medical information and other personal data. But senior officials at the Social Security agency agreed to an "ad hoc" policy that authorized the release of information to the bureau for investigations related to Sept. 11 because officials saw a "life-threatening" emergency, internal memorandums say.
The Social Security Administration was so forthcoming about the new policy, that a FOIA request had to be filed.
The Social Security memorandums were obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a civil liberties group here. Copies were provided to The New York Times.
What's next?