Government can and should help the public guard its private information, and given recent reports indicating a persistent problem with identity theft here, there is still room to improve security of data.

According to the latest Federal Trade Commission report on 2006 consumer fraud complaints, last year's tally in Hawai'i rose by 9 percent, ranking it seventh in the nation. And although reports of identity theft dropped from 2005 levels, some of the reports were categorized differently this year, making specific category comparisons difficult.

And there was even less reason to feel relieved about the issue with the release of another analysis. A risk-management company, ID Analytics Inc., compiled data on fraud cases, rather than just consumer reports. It concluded that Hawai'i ranks sixth nationally in identity fraud, a category that includes ID theft.

The new information, experts say, shows the need for continuing the fight against identity theft, both through government action and vigilance within the private sector.

In Hawai'i, that campaign is continuing in the Legislature, though it seems muted by comparison to last session, when a battery of laws passed. The focus was on containing the damage after the fact, protecting consumer credit reports for ID theft victims and ensuring prompt notification.

There were some restrictions on the release of Social Security numbers, a law that takes effect in July. But it's good to see that the Legislature has taken a cue from Congress and is pushing that issue even further.

Mirroring a measure in the U.S. Senate, the state Senate is moving SB331, which would limit the use of Social Security numbers as identifiers. Specifically, the bill would prohibit all state and county agencies from displaying an individual's Social Security number in any record or document available for public inspection. Although this measure would mean making some costly revisions to records, this seems a meaningful and necessary step to take.

But it's plain that government can't do everything. In responding to recent statistics, the Identity Theft Resource Center has urged also that consumers living in high-risk areas take more care in displaying, sharing and disposing of their own data. These documents are like a secret hand of cards, best played close to the vest.