Comment by aryonoco

It's so interesting how Australia went the other way and actually banned the use of any government-issued ID number as a primary identifier by any organisation other than the government department which issued that ID number.

In the 80s, the very popular Aussie prime minister, Bob Hawke wanted to introduce a National ID card, complete with a unique number, that would then be used for everything from Medicare to tax filing. The government however did not have the numbers to pass it through the Senate. Hawke called a double dissolution (dissolving both lower and upper houses of parliament) over the issue. He was returned to power after the election but still without a majority to get the bill through.

There were then attempts to use "other" government issued ID cards like the Medicare number, for this purpose. To prevent this, a few years later, a bill was passed that would prevent any such use.

In reality, this means businesses can ask for government issued numbers but it has to be optional and voluntary, and never used as a primary ID. When I go to my doctor for example, I can provide them with my medicare number, in which case they will claim the Medicare rebate on my behalf automatically, or I can refuse to provide them this number, pay the doctor's fee in full, and claim the rebate from medicare myself separately. Similarly I can provide my bank with my tax file number, in which case they will automatically tax my interests earned according to my income band. Or I can not provide them my tax file number, in which case they'll tax my interest rate at the highest income band, and I can then get the money back from the tax office when I file my tax returns at the end of the year.

In Australia we don't have a Bill of Rights. We don't even have a right to freedom of speech. The police can ask us to unlock our phones without a warrant; etc etc. Yet when it comes to privacy, our laws are very clear. For a country with such a history of protecting individual liberties, it always amazes me that the United States takes such a laissez faire approach to privacy.