And that thing you should be concerned about is the Real ID Act of 2005.
{...}The Real ID Act, which was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday and likely will clear the Senate next week, would require most license applicants to show a photo ID, a birth certificate, proof of their Social Security number and a document showing their full name and address. All of the documents then would have to be checked against federal databases.{...}
I'm not concerned so much with added scrutiny in regards to granting driver's licenses. What concerns me---and many geeks---is the last sentence of that paragraph: "All of the documents then would have to be checked against federal databases." The problem here being that with this bit of language it will be much easier for a hacker to steal your identity should this be signed into law.
{...}The bill dictates that all states collect, at a minimum, personal information from citizens in order to obtain a driver's license, including name, date of birth, gender, driver's license or identification card number, digital photograph, address and signature.Whereas collection of this particular information is not new, the linkage of states' databases is. The bill specifies that states link what are at present discrete databases, creating, in effect, one nationwide database with personal information pertaining to all citizens. {...}
Right now, a hacker would have to attack the databases of all the DMV's in all fifty states to get the information that, should this bill pass the senate and be signed into law, would be available in one place. This would create one big ass bullseye instead of fifty bullseyes.
Data convergence is all well and good until the Federal Government gets its grubby paws on the data. Given that Lexis-Nexis had the information on 310,000 of its customers stolen recently, and the same happened to Time Warner employees, do you really think the Federal Government will be able to keep your data safe from hackers?
I don't.
Call or email your senator today. They're trying to slip this one in under the wire to please those who watch the Lou Dobbs Xenophobe Hour of Power by attaching it to an Appropriations Bill, with no debate or hearings allowed. This is what the focus on illegal immigration has wrought. Pat yourselves on the back, big boys. You should be proud of what you've accomplished! Way to put everyone in jeopardy! THANKS!
{Hat Tip: Mike at Techdirt}
Posted by Kathy at May 9, 2005 12:37 PM