House panel backs SSN limits

Congress this week inched closer to new restrictions on the buying and selling of Americans' social security numbers.

The U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill that would direct the Federal Trade Commission to draft new rules governing SSN use.

"The inappropriate sale or purchase of Social Security numbers is a significant factor in a growing range of illegal activities, including fraud, identity theft, and, in some cases, stalking and other violent crimes," observes the bill, chiefly sponsored by Rep. Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat.

The new rules prescribed by the House proposal would not be without limits. For instance, sale and purchase of SSNs would generally be allowed when necessary for national security, health, and other emergency situations and for "research conducted for the purpose of advancing public knowledge."

That's because politicians have said they recognize uses of SSNs that tax collectors, the financial sector and law enforcement officials, among others, claim are invaluable.

Markey introduced the same bill in 2000 after hearing of an incident in which a 21-year-old woman was stalked and killed after an attacker purchased her social security number on the Internet for $45 and tracked her down. It's unclear whether his proposal--one of a handful related to SSNs--will become law during this session, as it still needs approval from both the full House and the Senate.