Social Security Opened Its Files for 9/11 Inquiry

NY Times ^ | 06/21/2005 | ERIC LICHTBLAU

[sheltonmac]

WASHINGTON, June 21 -The Social Security Administration has relaxed its privacy restrictions and searched thousands of its files at the request of the F.B.I. as part of terrorism investigations since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, newly disclosed records and interviews show.

The privacy policy typically bans the sharing of such sensitive 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 Internal Revenue Service also worked with the bureau and the Social Security agency to provide income and taxpayer information in terror inquiries, law enforcement officials said. Officials said the I.R.S. information was limited because legal restrictions prevented the sharing of taxpayer information except by court order or in cases of "imminent danger" or other exemptions. The tax agency refused to comment.

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.

[sheltonmac]

I can't wait to hear the "conservatives" chime in about how if we don't have anything to hide, then we don't have to worry; we're at war, so be prepared to give up some privacy; and so on...

[sheltonmac]

*ping*

[SittinYonder]

You know, if we did away with Social Security we wouldn't have to worry about them opening files.

[politicalwit]

"I can't wait to hear the "conservatives" chime in about how if we don't have anything to hide,"

I think you have "conservatives" confused with "republicans", ie, Bushbots.

[inquest]

And I'm waiting for liberals who claim to be so upset over privacy violations to turn right around and continue their calls for a single-payer government-run health care system.

[pacpam]

I'm looking for liberals and conservatives to keep their heads in the sand at their peril. When does the right of a society to survive begin and an individual's right to secrecy end. I don't know the answer since it has been asked since the beginning of societies. BUT, we had better find out if we, the U.S.A., citizens are to survive into the future.

[af_vet_rr]

I can't wait to hear the "conservatives" chime in about how if we don't have anything to hide, then we don't have to worry; we're at war, so be prepared to give up some privacy; and so on...

Don't forget, your missing part of that statement - they'll also tell us that liberals will never be in power again, and so it's okay if this type of thing happens.

[freepatriot32]

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

[The_Eaglet]

Thanks for the flag.

[The_Eaglet]

I think you have "conservatives" confused with "republicans",

I don't think so, which is why he was using the quotation marks. Liberal Republicans often style themselves as conservatives just because they are members of a party that had been a little less statist than the Democrats.