The latest disclosures of personal information by the state have one lawmaker questioning the assurances state agencies. After a security breach affecting the legislature, state Representative Marlin Schnieder last summer requested an update from several state agencies, and received letters detailing how they intended to protect sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers. "These agencies assured me that they were doing all that the could possibly do to protect our privacy, and that everything was just swell," said Schneider. "It wasn't swell, and they didn't do what they were supposed to do."
That's been borne out, said the longtime privacy advocate , by the latest state government goofs which have put Social Security numbers on mailing labels. The Wisconsin Rapids Democrat said the state needs to reinstate an office of privacy advocate, which existed briefly during the administration of former governor Tommy Thompson. How important is the protection of our Social Security numbers and other personal information? "This is perhaps the most important issue in the protection of human liberty in my time," said Schneider.