Taking a swing at the national id card issue on Pajamas this morning. Are you worried about the government spying on you? Oddly, I’m not. Maybe I’ve been living too dull a life lately.
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The government already has my address, photograph, and signature in their records. So what?
What more will they know about me with an ID card that they don’t already know when I file my taxes and apply for a passport?
The Army has my fingerprints. Again, why am I supposed to care?
I really have more important things than this to worry about.
Thanks for a smart piece, Roger.
I think that a National ID system may not be a problem in particular… rather I have concerns over how the system would be implemented, when we would be ‘required’ to show the ID, who could request the ID and some sort of guarantee that once they’re compromised (as a veteran of computer security, I can tell you that it likely WILL get compromised). Any system like this will likely have lots of bugs… will procedures be in place to verify the output of the system? What happens if I get mis-identified? What happens if someone hacks the data repositories? Will these ID’s replace our State ID’s and thus be requested by Video Rental, Credit Card companies, Bars, any adult establishments (casinos, clubs etc)? If so, what protections will be in place with these establishments?
I’m concerned about the federal government having all of my info, because I’m concerned that we may elect very bad people some day (like a real Hitler, rather than the one getting labeled as such). I’m concerned about the federal government having a big database of all of my information, because computer systems are prone to failure/compromise (or human error). Hell, the State of Ohio just lost hundreds of thousands of people private data… someone stole a backup tape (from an Intern’s car). I’m even more concerned about the liklihood of compromise, based on the existing example of how SSN’s (a supposedly private ID between you and the government) have been compromised. Think about how many people request your SSN, with the exception of your employer, bank and government… no one should have that ID. Yet, its all over the place. If you’re married, it’s likely in public records at this point (marriage license). Will national id’s end up any better off?
I really don’t think its as simple as many people seem to assume.
dclydew is correct that the implementation is the problem.
I have a lot of systems experience too and have wondered about this. My proposal would center on a magnetic card kinda like a bank card that would carry no information on its face other than your name. Encoded on the card would be sufficient detail for ID, birthdate, picture, finger prints, DNA, PIN number & password. Not medical or financial data.
The key is that all the encode information would NOT appear on any government data base beyond MAYBE a name and number.
Then card readers would be made that could be used to read the ID cards with no ability to store the information. Add whatever physical security you want on top. Additionally you could have different levels. One level can only display your picture, the next your finger prints, etc.
So everyone would carry their own personal “CD” with their own personal encryption on top of the built in stuff to which the government would have no on going access.
This would make it very difficult (nothing’s impossible) for anyone to crack someone else’s card, and very difficult for anyone to create new ones.
Additionally there are no federal databases to mine or hack. Which is a big part of the fear about such IDs
What do you think?
The problem with identifying aliens in the US is not the lack of national ID or lack of laws. The problem is, as often, the lack of law enforcement.
Every Geen Card holder is required to always carry the Green Card (the text can be found here). The law says The card must be in your possession at all times, so problem solved, right? Not really. No Green Card holder I know, including myself, carries the Green Card, only the DL. Why? Simple. Two reasons: no one ever asks for it and fear of losing it.
If you loose you wallet, or it gets stolen, credit cards, DL, and everything else can get replaced easily. It’s a bit of a pain, but it can be done easily. However, if you loose your Green Card it might take you one month to get a replacemnt, or one year, or maybe two years, or maybe… You get the idea.
Still, there are solutions. You carry a photocopy of your Green Card. Law enforcement can at least get your Green Card number off of that copy and check its validity. Not perfect, not really legal, but a workable compromise.
What about legal aliens without a Green Card, the ones who are here with different visas in their passports? Well, all of the above applies to them as well.
As you see, the law is simple and covers every situation. The problem is that law enforcement *never* enforces the law (with the exception of immigration raids, which are probably(?) publicity stunts).
Coming from Europe, the idea of a national ID doesn’t give me shivers. At all. However, I don’t see how an additional national ID law would fix the problem with identifying aliens, when an already existing (and good) law doesn’t? Before we discuss about new and “better” laws, how about enforcing the current ones?
Why?
When the government won’t enforce the laws, what is the point of the ID card?
I second what aro said. My wife’s an immigrant, now naturalized. She has never, except when crossing the border; or applying for a US passport, job, or US citizenship, been asked to show any documentation concerning her right to be in this country. This is over a 30 year period.
You want this situation fixed, effective, and followed by all? Assign it to the IRS. Let them boot everyone who can’t prove they’re allowed to be here and paid their taxes. It might not be Aerica anymore, but the illegals would be gone in a year. More paper and more government solves nothing.
Sorry, America. Preview is my friend.