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Nanny State

Indiana AG to Investigate Privacy Breach of Applicants for Federal Discount Phones

Personal information posted online for 44,000 applicants

Reason Staff | 5.21.2013 12:36 PM

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The Indiana attorney general's office confirmed Monday it is investigating a security breach in which Social Security numbers and other personal information were posted online for roughly 44,000 low-income Americans who applied for a federal program that provides discount Internet and phone service.

The program was nicknamed the "Obamaphone" during the 2012 election, though it actually started long before President Obama took office. Indiana reportedly has the highest number of applicants, roughly 17,400, who were signed up by TerraCom Inc. and the affiliated YourTel America Inc.

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