Social Security Calls a Halt to Online Service

Accused of putting Americans’ privacy at risk, the Social Security Administration on Wednesday suspended an Internet service that gave taxpayers access to their earnings and benefits records.

Acting Social Security Commissioner John J. Callahan said the online service will be disabled for at least 60 days while he holds a series of forums across the country with privacy and computer security experts and the public about how to ease fears.

After that, the agency will consider whether new safeguards are needed for the Internet service, including options such as giving people personal access codes or allowing them to request their records not be in the database.

Social Security’s entire Internet site will be inaccessible for two or three days while the database is being disabled, but general information will be back online soon.

Taxpayers will still be able to request their personal records through electronic mail to the agency, but reports will be sent through regular mail, rather than via the Internet.

Callahan said requests from lawmakers earlier this week, questions raised by computer experts interviewed in news reports and phone calls from the public all persuaded him to pull the service.