Guide helps businesses implement new privacy law - Privacy Compliance - social security numbers - Brief Article

California CPA, Oct, 2002

The California Department of Consumer Affairs' Office of Privacy Protection is issuing a guide to help businesses comply with a new law designed to safeguard the privacy of Social Security numbers.

Under the new law, businesses are no longer able to post or publicly display Social Security numbers; print the numbers on identification cards or badges; require people to transmit the numbers over the Internet unless the connection is secure or encrypted; require people to log on to a website using a Social Security number without a password; or print the numbers on materials mailed to customers unless required by law or the document is a form or application.

Businesses must comply with all requirements for every new customer since July 1. For existing customers, businesses can continue their former practices unless otherwise requested. Health care businesses are exempted from this deadline and will phase in the new law from Jan. 1, 2003 to July 1, 2005.

Recommended Practices for Protecting the Confidentiality of Social Security Numbers is available at www.privacy.ca.gov or by calling (866) 785-9663.