CGP Grey explains the history of the US Social Security card and number, and why they became a de facto national ID despite never being meant for it. He also covers why America resists a proper identity card.

Why Hacker News readers recommend it: HN reaches for it in every identity theft and data breach thread as the clearest, most enjoyable short explainer of why SSNs make bad identifiers.

“this is the most enjoyable explanation for it I've seen, by CGP Grey”

View the original HN discussion

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