Most American citizens violently oppose a National ID card. The federal government can get around this in two ways:Â
- Don’t call it a national ID cardÂ
- Don’t put the federally controlled database in a federal building
The U.S. government is doing both of these things (as up 2007, should be complete by 2009).
According the the Department of Homeland Security’s FAQ on REAL ID it is NOT a national ID card & the feds will not create a national database:
“Is this a National ID card?
No. The proposed regulations establish common standards for States to issue licenses. The Federal Government is not issuing the licenses, is not collecting information about license holders, and is not requiring States to transmit license holder information to the Federal Government that the Government does not already have (such as a Social Security Number). Most States already routinely collect the information required by the Act and the proposed regulations.”
“Will a national database be created that stores information about every applicant?
No. The REAL ID Act and these regulations do not establish a national database of driver information. States will continue to collect and store information about applicants as they do today. The NPRM does not propose to change this practice and would not give the Federal government any greater access to this information” Â
Well piss on my back and tell me its raining! The government is NOT creating a national ID card. The only problem with the above statements issued by the DHS is that they are bullshit.Â
Imagine. ME, a security guy of all people, opposed to a National ID Card? But I’m not the only one.
First off, what is this National ID Card REAL ID Card?
On March 1, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released draft regulations [PDF] for implementing REAL ID, which makes states standardize drivers licenses and create a vast national database linking all of the ID records together. Once in place, uses of the IDs and database will inevitably expand to facilitate a wide range of tracking and surveillance activities. — EFF
As stated above, the National ID Card for the U.S. would be based on existing State I.D. Cards and driver’s license programs. The main issue is linking all state databases together so that the federal government can track citizens. Â
Now you may be wondering: Does this sound like something an illegal immigrant and/or criminal would not be able to falsify? (and even if they are caught current laws for illegal immigrants are not enforced) If illegal immigrants are not going to abide by the law, does this law really enhance the nation’s security? Â
Oppose the Real ID Act of 2005Â
My main reason for opposing a US national ID card is that I don’t trust the federal government with a consolidated view and control of all of our information. I think all the information they gather will eventually fall into the wrong hands (on purpose or by negligence). I was in the military, so the feds already have my data and the feds have lost MY {privacy act protected} information more than once. A branch of the U.S. government lost 25.6 million account including the Social Security Numbers for Veterans more than once. They kept this information secret from the victims for 19 days.  19 days is ample time for someone to steal an identity once they have the information they need. In one case the data was supposedly recovered and deemed by the FBI forensics as un-tampered with. Supposedly they are not creating a seperate national database… but the linked state system WILL be the national database from which the feds will feed. Its a play on words and I wish people would wake up screaming about this.
There seems to be a disregard for protecting the privacy and security of citizens. The resources that would normally be used to protect us are being wasted and sent to serve other purposes.  In my oppinion security is still NOT being done because illegal immigrant laws are not being enforced despite the fact there is a “war on terrorism”. Now if you don’t think something is seriously wrong about the protection of our borders at a time when their is a “war on terrorism” read the story of Border Patrol Agent Ignacio Ramos being jailed for shoot a drug dealer trying to enter the country. The DHS officials lied to congress about these agents (and got caught). Drug smuggler Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila is a free man. Meanwhile, other border patrol agents are being deployed to Iraq. I believe there is a reason that the law is not enforced but I leave that speculation up to you.
Privacy Clearing House has a chronological list of data breaches starting from 2005. The more databases of large organizations (schools, federal/state, credit cards) our personal information is in, the greater the risk of ID theft and financial fraud we face.  ID theft is currently the fastest growing crime in the US and UK. And its been the fastest growing for a long time. I attribute this to organizations putting security last when it should be implemented from the very begining and maintained aggressively.Â
So, a national card REAL ID registry databases at the federal level may only add to on-going issues of personal security of US citizens which the US government does not seem to worried about too much.Â
To the credit of the U.S. federal government, the Department of Homeland Security’s Chief Privacy Officer, Hugo Teufel III, issued a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA). According to the document the National ID card would be difficult to falsify.Â
Other issues addressed in the PIA:
The PIA addresses the key privacy issues posed by the Act: (1) Does the REAL ID Act create a national identity card or database; (2) How will personal information required by the REAL ID Act be protected in the state databases; (3) How will the personal information stored on the machine readable technology on the driver’s licenses and identification cards be protected from unauthorized collection and use; and (4) Do the requirements for a photograph and address on the credential and the DMV employee background check erode privacy.
The REAL ID method will extend the life and legitamacy of the Social Security Number as a national ID number.
The DHS PIA document is exactly right when it states:
Some of the public concern about the REAL ID stems from the history surrounding the expansive use of the SSN beyond its original purpose of recording the information necessary to provide a public pension benefit.
The original purpose of the Social Security Number was to track taxation and payments for social programs under Roosevelt’s New Deal created in the 1930s following the Great Drepression.  These days the Social Security number is a de facto national ID number issued to all citizens and you really can’t do anything signifigant without it (i.e. get a job… unless your are an illegal immigrant.. i guess people in the US have privacy after all). BTW – Collecting Social Security after age 65 is a joke… it is program that will not support the “baby boomer” (but that is a different issue all together).Â
The DHS Privacy Impact Assessment goes through most general concerns the the REAL ID act posses to the privacy of U.S. citizens thoroughly…. except for one. Put on your tin-foil hats for this one. The government works so closely with private companies (namely lobbyists pushing and paying for certain policies, bid and no-bid contracts, laws and regulations) that I believe that they would give out our con$olidated information for the right price. Realistically, a national database in some form or another already exists (social security). But the REAL ID database would make it possible to have a REAL-time view of all transactions.
DHS PIA pg. 6: “financial institutions, retailers, hotels, health-care providers, and others may consider the REAL ID credential”.Â
It sounds like the ultimate consolidation of all personal data. It will merge your social, driver’s license, and possibly finacial and medical info.Â
You see, the REAL ID system would not just be used in the police but with PRIVATE agencies. On military installations you can’t do much of anything without a certain government ID card. The data on this REAL ID will be the cream of the crop. Particularly if is collects data on where you’ve been. But conspiracy theories on new American corporate facism aside, people need to know that this is happening. A wake up is long over due for Americans. I just hope this cancerous apathy doesn’t kill the priciples of the country I love.
Check out the last line of the DHS Privacy Impact Assessment:
The public is encouraged to comment on the NPRM and on the privacy issues associated with implementation of the Act in order to ensure that the final rule reflects robust public input on these important issues.
Links:
Facial Recognition to deter ID Theft
DHS Privacy Impact Assessment REAL ID Act – Chief Privacy Officer, DHS
Four State Oppose RealID (New Hampshire, Oklahoma, joined Montana, Washington – as of 10 Jun 2007)
(New Hampshire, Oklahoma, joined Montana, Washington – as of 10 Jun 2007)Ron Paul oppinion on Amnesty for illegal immigrants and the National ID
(New Hampshire, Oklahoma, joined Montana, Washington – as of 10 Jun 2007)
(New Hampshire, Oklahoma, joined Montana, Washington – as of 10 Jun 2007)New World Ord… I mean other things that didn’t make it into the REAL ID ACT:
(New Hampshire, Oklahoma, joined Montana, Washington – as of 10 Jun 2007)
(New Hampshire, Oklahoma, joined Montana, Washington – as of 10 Jun 2007)
Original legislation contained one of the most controversial elements which did not make it into the final legislation that was signed into law. It would have required states to sign a new compact known as the Driver License Agreement (DLA) as written by the Joint Driver’s License Compact/ Non-Resident Violators Compact Executive Board with the support of AAMVA which would have required states to give reciprocity to those provinces and territories in Canada and those states in Mexico that joined the DLA and complied with its provisions. As a part of the DLA, states would be required to network their databases with these provinces, territories and Mexican states. The databases that are accessible would include sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, home addresses and other information. The foreign states and provinces are not required to abide with the Drivers Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) and are free to access and use the sensitive information as they see fit. – REAL ID wiki
The UK is fighting the same battle of liberties.Â
If I trusted the government, I suppose this would not be that big a deal.
Bonus: Total “Terrorism” Information Awareness – TIAÂ
 Multiple standardized computing environments can be monitored and controlled using Open Grid Service Architecture (OGSA). If the federal government is not using this technology togather data from the DMV systems I would be very surprised.
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