Home » Politics & Society » Technology & U.S. Politics » Privacy and security concerns clash over standard driver’s licenses - Page 3

Privacy and security concerns clash over standard driver’s licenses - Page 3

© Alan Kotok

-- They would not prevent terrorism. Would-be terrorists will always find ways around any system

-- They would require a large bureaucracy, and restrict liberties. Making a state-level identification system into a national system would just make it more difficult to correct errors.

-- They would cost a lot of money. Jansen cited a $9 billion figure, but did not reference where that estimate originated.

-- They would contribute to identity theft rather than reduce it. A national ID would make it possible for fraud artists to find all important identity data in one source, rather than keeping it in separate databases as done now.

-- They would invite more ways to use the data by government agencies and private entities, thus compromising our privacy and encouraging a surveillance society.

Opponents of national IDs span the political spectrum, including leading conservative organizations such as the Free Congress Foundation and Eagle Forum, as well as civil liberties groups, including the Electronic Privacy Information Center and American Civil Liberties Union. Recent surveys suggest the public opposes the idea as well. A study by technology research company Gartner Inc., released in March, shows Americans opposing the creation of a national identification database, with 41 percent against the idea and 26 percent in favor. The only uses for such a system that had any sizable support were airport control and providing entry to this country.

Gartner's report quoted the company's research director for security who said the technology is ready for a national identification system, but the public is not. Even with strong public support for heightened security after 11 September, the American public still seems to guard its privacy.

Net Privacy: A Guide to Developing & Implementing an Ironclad ebusiness Privacy Plan Electronic customer intelligence gathering has been perceived as a major advantage of doing business online. Yet, according to a recent Business Week poll, 92% of Internet users are uncomfortable with the practice of ebusinesses selling their personal information to other businesses. In this timely guide, two acknowledged experts on the subject arm companies that do business online with a complete blueprint for developing and implementing a privacy plan that satisfies their customers' desire for privacy while permitting them the latitude they need to do business competitively over the Internet.

Links:

Senate Governmental Affairs Committee hearings on state driver's licenses, http://www.senate.gov/~gov_affairs/04160...

The copyright of the article Privacy and security concerns clash over standard driver’s licenses - Page 3 in Technology & U.S. Politics is owned by . Permission to republish Privacy and security concerns clash over standard driver’s licenses - Page 3 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.