Think Your Personal Info Is Safe? Look At Local Records Online

Well, here’s a nice cheery thought to start your week: your local government may well be granting access over the Internet to documents containing:

• Your Social Security number;
• Your birthdate;
• Your address;
• Even more.

Shocking? The problem, as I see it, results from the interplay of state Freedom of Information Laws, coupled with growing awareness on the part of local officials of the desirability of easing up access to records, with the need to protect personal identifying information from identity thieves and scam artists.

A recent article by the New York Times illustrates the conflict, and tells the story of one Virginia woman who spearheaded an awareness campaign (moral: one person can indeed make a big difference). Finally, local governments are starting to pay attention to the issue and even better, actually do something about it.

Inquire at your local government’s public information office as to what the official policy is on identifying information contained in internet-accessible documents. If it’s anything other than “we redact ALL identifying information” or some other acceptable use policy, consider calling your governing board’s office and asking to be put on the public input portion of the agenda for the next meeting. Let your representatives know about the problem, and ask that something be done. Then, hold them accountable.