[eno_]

The government is explicitly constitutionally authorized to COUNT people.

The government is not constitutionally authorized to gather and keep other data.

What do YOU call government activity that isn't constitutionally authorized?

The word is "illegitimate."

[unlearner]

You call federal identification standards "government activity that isn't constitutionally authorized" and "illegitimate."

But the constitution does authorize this legislation:

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing [sic] Senators...

(There are additional specific powers pertaining to protecting voter rights as related to race, sex, age, employment, tax delinquency, etc.)

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence [sic] and general Welfare of the United States...

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization...

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

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You said, "The government is not constitutionally authorized to gather and keep other data. "

But "records" are necessary to carry out the laws which are authorized by the constitution. And these records entail gathering and keeping data.

As I have pointed out before in this forum, the "right to privacy" is not explicitly stated in the constitution. It is correctly inferred in some instances, but it is not universal and does not provide protection to specific behavior. These legal ideas are part of the problem with modern constitutional thinking in our courts. There is the idea of extrapolating ideas and inventing rights that do not exist.