Compelling someone to provide their Social Security Number (SSN) is a federal felony under 42 U.S.C. § 408(a)(8). Learn how the law protects your right to withhold your SSN and how the Privacy Act mandates full disclosure before it can be requested. Court rulings confirm your privacy rights — and even the FBI admits that Credit Privacy Numbers (CPNs) are legal alternatives. Discover how you can use a W-8BEN, foreign trust, or CPN to legally opt out of the W-4/W-2 system.