FBI Wants To Build Huge Biometric Database
Date : 04 Feb 2008 Category : Business
Techdirt
We just found out that the White House has chosen not to staff the official "Privacy Board" that is supposed to make sure gov't surveillance doesn't infringe on American citizens' privacy. That came right after National Intelligence Director, Mike McConnell, announced that he's hoping to get the rights to monitor all internet traffic. Since news tends to come in threes (well, so says the urban legend) now comes the news that the FBI is looking to put together a huge biometric database containing info on fingerprints, palm prints, iris recognition mug shots and scars of anyone they can gather this info on. This seems like a typical reaction from a gov't agency, and with the announcement comes all the typical political doubletalk about how this is for safety, claiming that the database is "important to protect the borders to keep the terrorists out, protect our citizens, our neighbors, our children so they can have good jobs, and have a safe country to live in."
However, as has been made clear countless times, these types of databases always get abused. Much more importantly, as Tim pointed out recently, violating peoples' privacy doesn't provide more security. In fact, it often does the opposite. It makes it easier for important data to get lost in the pile, and it also means that that data is now that much less secure. The database itself suddenly becomes a huge target. So, in an effort to make the country "more secure," an effort like this can actually do the opposite.
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However, as has been made clear countless times, these types of databases always get abused. Much more importantly, as Tim pointed out recently, violating peoples' privacy doesn't provide more security. In fact, it often does the opposite. It makes it easier for important data to get lost in the pile, and it also means that that data is now that much less secure. The database itself suddenly becomes a huge target. So, in an effort to make the country "more secure," an effort like this can actually do the opposite.
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