This morning I received notification from the Social Security Administration that there was a new message for me on their website. So, I went to ssa.gov (I did not click on any link in the notification). After logging in, a screen came up saying that, since it had been more than a year since my last visit, I needed to re-agree to the site’s Terms of Service. Most terms are pretty standard, but the last one is not:
I agree that the Social Security Administration is not responsible for the improper disclosure of any information that the Social Security Administration has provided to me or any information that is on or from my computer or other device, whether due to my negligence or the wrongful acts of others.
I don’t remember coming across anything like this before, on any website’s TOS. Does anyone know if this is new? IANAL, but it sounds to me like: “If someone uses the SSA to hack your computer or phone and steal sensitive information, you agree that’s OK.” It has a musky smell.
UPDATE: Thank you for your comments showing you share my concern. I have sent email to both DemocracyDocket and my regional ACLU office alerting them to this.
