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Re: Social Security Numbers and User Authentication 

In Canada, the Freedom of Information Act would not allow the use of the
Social Insurance No. for anything other than for which it was designated.

Mary Anne Epp

Director of Contract Administration,		email: maepp@langara.bc.ca
 Library Services				fax:  (604) 323-5577
Langara College					tel:  (604) 323-5627
100 W. 49th Ave.
Vancouver B.C.
V5Y 2Z6


On Mon, 3 Nov 1997, Kathy Mcgreevy wrote:

> Our campus Computing Services Department is currently working on the user
> authentication process that will validate our users for remote access to
> IAC's SearchBank. They've proposed that people's social security numbers
> be used as their login ID to the College's online authentication process,
> i.e. a user will key in his/her SSN, a computer on campus will check it to
> verify that s/he is currently enrolled or employed here, and s/he'll be
> cleared for access to whatever we want them to have access to. 
> 
> At a recent workshop, three librarians mentioned that they thought it was
> *illegal* to use the social security number for user authentication. (Not
> to mention that few people will want to anyway.)  Does anyone know
> anything about the legality of using SSNs for authentication? (Haven't
> found anything in the archives of this list.) 
> 
> Thanks for any info you can provide!
> 
> ..................................................................
> Kathy McGreevy                     kathy@floyd.santarosa.edu
> Ref. Librarian, Electronic         kathy@sonic.net
>   Network Services                 http://www.santarosa.edu/~kathy
> 
> Santa Rosa Junior College          voice: 1-707-527-4547
> Santa Rosa, CA 95401               fax:   1-707-527-4545
> ..................................................................


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