Ancestry drops Social Security Numbers

[Elisabeth Thorsell]

Ancestry drops Social Security Numbers for Recent Deaths
 
Undoubtedly in response to Congressional interest in the risk of fraud using the Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Ancestry.com has dropped displaying the Social Security Number of any person in the SSDI who died within the past 10 years. In addition, the company has removed the SSDI from RootsWeb.com, which it owns, where it was available at no charge.
 
Meanwhile, a bill has been proposed in the U.S. Senate that would, in effect, delay posting to the SSDI for up to two years after the person's death. People with a need to know can apply to the Department of Commerce to request the information on an excluded individual. A companion bill has been presented in the House of Representatives.
 
Från Nu? What's New? - Vol. 12, No. 49 - December 18, 2011  [nuwhatsnew@earthlink.net]