A complaint about Social Security numbers exposed on a federal government contract and grants awards online database has lead to their removal from the Census database and from FedSpending.org, OMB Watch, which operates the database of financial awards, has removed the ID number field, which listed some Social Security numbers.

At the request of the government, OMB Watch is willing to temporarily redact the Federal Award ID data field for the entire FAADS database if the government agrees to provide a plan for updating the unique identifier without personally identifiable information within 30 days.

As reported:

Federal Database Exposes Social Security Numbers, New York Times.

Agencies expose 100,000 Social Security numbers on Web, Government Executive.

The Sunlight Foundation background on the OMB Watch, New York Times and federal agencies exchanges is well worth a read.