Friday, February 9, 2007

Wired News: Some States Welcome National ID SAN FRANCISCO -- Even as rebellion grows in some state capitals against the looming Real ID mandate from Congress, proponents speaking Thursday on a panel at the RSA Conference could barely contain their enthusiasm for putting standard government-issued ID cards in the hands of all citizens. The Real ID Act was inserted into a must-pass military spending bill in 2005. It requires states to redesign their driver's licenses and state ID cards to meet a common federal standard, and to start sharing information with all other states -- effectively turning 50 different state-issued cards into a national ID. Citizens will have to present documents such as a certified birth certificate, marriage certificate and a Social Security card to renew their current licenses or ID cards. If a state fails to comply, residents won't be able to use their ID to board planes, enter federal courtrooms or collect federal benefits. 8:55:23 PM  PermaLink   / trackback []

Some States Say National ID Cards 'Make Life Easier'. Some States Say National ID Cards 'Make Life Easier'.  VE3OGG writes "Some places, like Maine, have outright rejected the idea of a nationally mandated ID card amid privacy, legal and security concerns. On the other side of the fence some states, such as California and New Jersey, have said that they welcome the National ID card and that it will make 'life easier'. One New Jersey official said 'All you are getting in e-government for the most part are things that don't require strong two-factor identification,' the official said referring to security that requires something beyond a user name and password. 'But as we move forward and start to deliver more and more complicated services, I think that people for the most part will want to know their government has implemented strong measures [with National ID cards]'." [Slashdot: Your Rights Online] 8:53:03 PM  PermaLink   / trackback []

LiveScience.com - Stealthy Iris Scanner in the Works >A public iris scanning device has been proposed in a patent from Samoff Labs in New Jersey. The device is able to scan the iris of the eye without the knowledge or consent of the person being scanned. The device uses multiple cameras, and then combines images to create a single scan (see diagram).   Iris recognition is a biometric identification system that requires a high-resolution picture of the irides of the subject's eye. Pattern recognition software is then used to match that picture against future iris scans.  Iris scans are considered highly accurate; current iris recognition algorithms have an incredibly low false match rate. Good quality scans result in a "false match" less than one time per one hundred billion (this system has been used with excellent results in the United Arab Emirates). 8:47:34 PM  PermaLink   / trackback []

Public Iris Scanning Device In the Works. Public Iris Scanning Device In the Works. Nonfinity writes  "A public iris scanning device has been proposed in a patent application from Sarnoff Labs in New Jersey. The device is able to scan the iris of the eye without the knowledge or consent of the person being scanned. The device uses multiple cameras, captures multiple images, and then selects the best image to process."  [Slashdot: Your Rights Online] 8:42:13 PM  PermaLink   / trackback []

GOP revives ISP-tracking legislation | CNET News.com All Internet service providers would need to track their customers' online activities to aid police in future investigations under legislation introduced Tuesday as part of a Republican "law and order agenda." Employees of any Internet provider who fail to store that information face fines and prison terms of up to one year, the bill says. The U.S. Justice Department could order the companies to store those records forever. 8:38:41 PM  PermaLink   / trackback []

ISP Tracking Legislation Hits the House. ISP Tracking Legislation Hits the House.   cnet-declan writes  "CNET News.com reports that Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives announced yesterday legislation to force ISPs to keep track of what their users are doing. It's part of the Republicans 'law and order agenda,' with other components devoted to the death penalty, gangs, and terrorists. Attorney General Gonzales would be permitted to force Internet providers to keep logs of Web browsing, instant message exchanges, and e-mail conversations indefinitely. The draft bill is available online, and it also includes mandatory Web labeling for sexually explicit pages. The idea enjoys bipartisan support: a Colorado Democrat has been the most ardent supporter in the entire Congress."  [Slashdot: Your Rights Online] 8:36:55 PM  PermaLink   / trackback []