You can identify by other means. Or at least give the opportunity to use other means. If you can’t keep my personal information safe, you shouldn’t be allowed to collect it.

Then why can I buy a prepaid SIM with cash and no ID? I do this when travelling to the US because it’s cheaper than international roaming.

If only there were some sort of moniker you went by other than a SSN. That coupled with some sort of location data could narrow you down to, ooh, one person I suppose.

In the UK we have NI number, which is used by my employer, pension provider, the tax services, the benefits office, and that’s pretty much it. It’s not used as a general source of ID by corporations.

From an outside point of view, the US system looks crazy. And that’s coming from somebody who’s country has a TV license.

Then why do our ISPs in Germany at best just need our contract confirmation and maybe a SEPA entry?

Even my bank I opened an account with just wanted to get my tax-id and my ID-number (wich changes with every re-issue).

Something of a joke that, since the SSN is an identifier, the identity tool quickly becomes an identity theft tool once it’s been pilfered.

With humans increasingly pushed out of the customer service loop, these security scams get easier every day.

there is no damn reason for them to identify any of their customers other than the idiots with contract phones

Even if there were no other way, why store it? How often do they need to re-identify you?