What law is broken when i give out someones ssn?
<p>Say I find someone's  ssn. Then I go around sharing it with everyone  and all their personal info.</p>

<p>Am I committing identity theft? I am not directly using their identity. I am not directly benefiting from this either. Besides civil damages what law is broken?</p>

<p>It depends on who you are releasing information about.</p>

<p>What you are suggest is often referred to as "doxxing" - the releasing of private information about an individual - and <a href="https://www.robertreeveslaw.com/blog/doxing-arrested/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">its not as straight forward</a> as "nothing will happen to you".</p>

<p>In the US, if you do this to a "covered person", you can potentially find yourself with a large fine, or even up to 5 years in prison under <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/119" rel="nofollow noreferrer">18 U.S. Code § 119.Protection of individuals performing certain official duties</a></p>

<p>Under the above code, the following is counted as "restricted information":</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>the term “restricted personal information” means, with respect to an individual, the Social Security number, the home address, home phone number, mobile phone number, personal email, or home fax number of, and identifiable to, that individual;</p>
</blockquote>

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