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Re-activateA recent Democratic proposal to embed Social Security cards with biometric information—in theory to curb the employment of illegal immigrants—is stirring a wide span of emotions in just the few hours since it was unveiled. (References to biometric identifiers begin on page 8 of the proposal.).
On The Hill website, Alexander Bolton reports on objections to the proposed cards, embedded with unique biometric identifiers. Detractors raise concerns that we'll all be required to carry the card, ostensibly to produce when asked. Writing for the Washington Post, Ezra Klein opines that the card is, in fact, a national identity card.
Jamison Foser, writing for Media Matters for America maintains that concerns about the card are overblown. The Democratic proposal would require that only the person possessing the card could decide who got access to the information in it. You'd need to produce the card before you got hired—a common practice now—but not to carry it around otherwise.
Consumer Reports recommends you don't carry around your Social Security card, mainly to protect yourself from identity theft and fraud if it's lost or stolen. That said, the card doesn't have to leave your desk drawer for you suffer damage to your finances and your good name from identity theft. Here are some additional thoughts from Consumer Reports on protecting your identity, your money, and your reputation.
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