• frezik@midwest.social
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    3 hours ago

    SSNs are reused. Someone dies and their number gets reassigned. The database could easily be keeping track of all previous assignments for any given SSN.

    Remember, SSNs are designed for social security and nothing else. They got picked up as a unique ID by private interests as a hack. They were never supposed to be as widespread in use as they are. The federal government using it this way is the specific, designed use case.

    • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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      3 hours ago

      Yep, and any attempt to replace them with a purpose designed government ID has gotten conspiracy nuts to shut it down