Privacy does not exist in the U.S. The personal, private information of citizens who purchase goods, obtain a mortgage, pay for utilities, apply for credentials, or simply go about life in the U.S. is readily available in the public domain. The personal data of individuals is compromised in breaches at alarming rates and is being stolen, sold and misused daily by crime rings or through internal fraud. Information resellers compile and store detailed profiles on consumers and make their private information available for a fee. Public information databases such as real estate filings contain enough information for individuals to impersonate others and commit identity fraud; individuals are themselves to blame for posting identifying information to social networking sites.

Protecting the privacy of Americans has become nearly impossible due to information resellers, the black-market demand for identity information, and the increasing sophistication of information crimes. It is possible, however, to protect citizens from harm by preventing the opportunity for their personal information to be used against them.

Bank accounts are opened, credentials are obtained, employment eligibility is confirmed and services are received, all based on the presentation of personal information without requiring the identification of the individual presenting it. The processes used today request and verify private identity information, when it is not possible to confirm that the individual providing the information is the person who owns that identity. Verifying information rather than identifying individuals allows personal information to be used to commit identity fraud. Not only is a citizen’s privacy compromised, it is allowed to be used against them.