The "Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act" restricts access to Social Security data by political appointees and special government employees, allows individuals to sue for unauthorized data access or disclosure, mandates investigations and reports on data breaches, and preserves existing privacy regulations.
John Larson
Representative
CT-1
The "Protecting Americans' Social Security Data Act" aims to safeguard Social Security data by restricting access for political appointees and special government employees, and by creating avenues for civil lawsuits for unauthorized data access or disclosure. It mandates investigations by the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration into data breaches and requires regular reports to Congress. The Act also directs the Comptroller of the United States to study the effects of changes to the Social Security Act made by this Act and subsequent Acts.
Social Security Data Gets Locked Down: New Bill Restricts Access, Boosts Penalties for Breaches
The "Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act" is all about tightening up who can access your sensitive Social Security information and slapping bigger fines on those who misuse it. Basically, it aims to keep your data safer and hold people accountable if they mess with it. This is done by restricting access, allowing you to take action, and investigating breaches.
No More Prying Eyes
This bill straight-up blocks political appointees and "special government employees" from accessing the systems that handle everything from issuing Social Security numbers to determining benefits and paying them out. We're talking about databases like the Master Beneficiary Record and the National Disability Determination Services File – basically, the Fort Knox of your personal info (Section 2). This means that political appointees won't be able to casually browse through your records.
Your Data, Your Rights – And Cash if They Mess Up
Here's where things get interesting. If someone does illegally access or share your Social Security information, you can now sue them (Section 3). And we're not just talking about government employees – anyone who messes with your data can be held liable. The law says they'll have to pay the greater of $5,000 per incident or the actual damages you suffered, plus potential punitive damages if they were really reckless. They'll also be on the hook for your legal fees. You have two years from discovering the breach to file a lawsuit. Plus, the Social Security Administration has to notify you if someone gets criminally charged or faces disciplinary action for messing with your data. The notice must include the date of what happened, and your rights under the law.
Watchdogs on the Case
Any unauthorized access or disclosure triggers a mandatory investigation by the Social Security Administration's Inspector General (Section 4). The Inspector General has to report to Congress within 30 days of finding out about a violation, laying out the details, assessing the risks, and describing any actions taken. Think of it as an extra layer of oversight to keep things on the level.
Keeping the Old Rules, Adding New Ones
The bill keeps existing privacy regulations (specifically, part 401 of title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as of January 19, 2025) in place (Section 5). These rules are still legally binding, no matter what else changes. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will also be doing a deep dive into the effects of these changes, with monthly reports to Congress leading up to a full report within a year (Section 6). This is to make sure the new rules are actually working as intended. The changes apply to any violations that happen on or after the day the Act is enacted (Section 7).
So, the "Protecting Americans Social Security Data Act" is essentially giving your Social Security data a serious security upgrade. It's limiting who can see it, giving you more power to fight back if something goes wrong, and putting watchdogs in place to keep everyone honest.