Your Social Security Card is Insecure
CGP Grey・8 minutes read
Americans do not have a national ID card, relying instead on Social Security numbers for identification, which were initially created for tracking pension contributions during the Great Depression. Although widely used, Social Security numbers lack security features, making them vulnerable to fraud and not universally applicable.
Insights
- The Social Security card and number act as an informal national ID system in the absence of an official one, being widely used for identification purposes despite lacking robust security features.
- The evolution of Social Security numbers from tracking contributions in a pension scheme to becoming a standard form of identification from birth highlights the adaptability of the system to address practical needs, such as efficient tax tracking and benefits distribution, despite inherent vulnerabilities to fraud due to their predictable nature.
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Recent questions
Why do Americans lack a national ID card?
Due to political controversy.
What was the purpose of the Social Security program during the Great Depression?
Established as a pension scheme.
How did Social Security numbers evolve over time in the United States?
Initially issued to working adults, later standard from birth.
Why did the US Tax Department utilize Social Security numbers?
To track taxes efficiently.
What makes Social Security numbers vulnerable to fraud?
Lack of self-checking security feature.
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Summary
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"Social Security: De Facto National ID"
- Americans lack a national ID card due to political controversy, but the Social Security card and number serve as a de facto identification system.
- The Social Security program was established during the Great Depression as a pension scheme, leading to the creation of the Social Security number to track contributions and withdrawals.
- Initially, Social Security numbers were only issued to working adults, but over time, they became standard from birth to address the lack of a national ID system.
- The US Tax Department utilized Social Security numbers to track taxes efficiently, encouraging parents to obtain numbers for their children for tax benefits.
- The lack of a self-checking security feature in Social Security numbers makes them vulnerable to fraud, with predictable patterns in the digits making them easier to guess.
- Despite lacking security measures, the Social Security card is widely used as a form of identification, although it fails to provide secure identification and is not universally applicable, with exceptions for certain groups like the Amish and Mennonites.
