Red Cross Backs Off Intrusive Background Checks

The American Red Cross in 2006 announced that it would perform intrusive background checks on volunteers, including credit checks and mode-of-living checks. ARRL, supporting many hams who were Red Cross volunteers, protested. And like many others, I'm sure, I started finding other disaster-relief organizations to send money to rather than Red Cross.

ARRL now says that ARC's background-check policy has been moderated. There is a permission form, and it allows a check of name, SSN, and criminal background, and nothing else.