Packed with biometric data and a computer chip, new federal employee IDs represent potential boon to technology companies eyeing an estimated $8 billion in identity-related contracts.
Posts Tagged ‘AIT’
Plan for Enhanced Federal IDs Could Open Door to a Biometrics Boom
Monday, August 28th, 2006Many Nations Have ID Cards in the Work
Friday, September 2nd, 2005Most nations have already implemented or are in the process of implementing ID card program for their citizens. As a minimum, countries are implementing biometric and RFID-enabled passports to control people crossing their borders. On the other extreme, countries like Malaysia are issuing multi-functional ID cards for everyone over twelve years of age. CNET News article says that the Malaysia ID card “… stores thumbprints, a digital photo and basic information on the cardholder, including religion for the major ethnic group, the Malays. But the card also serves as a driver’s license, passport and, under government plans, the national health card. And cardholders can use it to pay for purchases, withdraw money from ATMs, cover transit fares, pay road tolls and digitally sign documents on their PCs.” If terrorist attacks continue, we may all soon have ID cards like Malaysia. See Wikipedia for more National Identity Documents.
Back to Automatic Identification Technology.
National ID Standards Becoming Law
Wednesday, May 11th, 2005Over the years there has been a lot talk in the US about a national ID card for everyone. Now it is happening. The U.S. Government will not actually create the national ID cards – it will be the states following federal guidelines. The U.S. is also putting RFID tags in passports that is causing a lot of controversy. See Wikipedia’s posting, Biometric U.S. Passports for more information. Internationally, see what is happening with International National Identity Document.
New legislation is about to be approved that will require every state to abide by certain standards before they issue a driver’s license. To get a driver’s license in the future recipients will have to provide up to four proofs of identification such as a photo ID, a birth certificate, proof that their Social Security number is legitimate and something that verifies the applicant’s full home address, such as a utility bill. Besides having standards for issuing a driver’s license there will be standards on what information is put on the driver’s license and how it can be read (print, bar code, RFID in the future?). See Wired posting Wired News: No Real Debate for Real ID for more details.
There are advantages and disadvantages to having nation-wide standards for driver’s licenses. The primary advantage is to prevent terrorists or criminals from being issued a driver’s license to disguise their identity. The primary disadvantage is privacy. With standardized driver’s licenses across all states there will also be a centralized database with everyone’s personal information. Also, there is discussion about RFID tags to hold more information on the driver’s licenses. This centralized information could spell trouble if it is ever misused such for marketing, ID theft, or for more Government control.
