SEC Database Bares Social Security Numbers

http://www.computerworld.com/home/news.nsf/all/9903265sec

Social Security numbers on certain documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are readily available on the site and the SEC refuses to remove them. "Some top corporate executives' Social Security numbers are freely available on a government Web site -- another example of the continuing battle over privacy rights in the Internet age."

Questions:

1. Explain how and why certain individual's social security numbers are posted on the Web by the U.S. government.

2. Explain what you believe should be the regulations for posting Social Security numbers on the Web. Should the regulations be the same for the government as for private individuals?

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