FBI wants palm prints, eye scans, tattoo mapping (Nationwide Biometric Database)

CNN, AP, Various ^ | 4 Feb 2008 | Kelli Arena and Carol Cratty

[af_vet_rr]

The FBI is gearing up to create a massive computer database of people's physical characteristics, all part of an effort the bureau says to better identify criminals and terrorists.

But it's an issue that raises major privacy concerns -- what one civil liberties expert says should concern all Americans.

The bureau is expected to announce in coming days the awarding of a $1 billion, 10-year contract to help create the database that will compile an array of biometric information -- from palm prints to eye scans.

Kimberly Del Greco, the FBI's Biometric Services section chief, said adding to the database is "important to protect the borders to keep the terrorists out, protect our citizens, our neighbors, our children so they can have good jobs, and have a safe country to live in."

But it's unnerving to privacy experts.

[af_vet_rr]

The FBI section chief in charge of this managed to touch on Terrorism, borders, and protecting the children all in one sentence. I bet she spent a lot of time working up a comment like that.

Also refer to this thread from a month and a half ago that talks about the FBI putting this together for visitors to the US.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I understand Japan is doing some version of this.

[stuartcr]

Sounds more like the bureau of George Orwell.

[bmwcyle]

FBI check with the CIA, NRO, DOD and NGA. They have all my information.

[Eternal_Bear]

Big Brother needs to know everything about you for your own good.

[DoughtyOne]

I read a few weeks back that they also want a DNA sample on every U.S. Citizen.

Tell you what, I’ll fight the DNA sample tooth and nail, but I will throw in a stool sample just to show my respect for Waco’s finest.

[BGHater]

‘our children ‘

That didn’t take long to get thrown in there.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Oh, heck. I give up. Here, take this sample of my sperm and stick that chip under my skin. What else you want besides that? You satisfied now?

[af_vet_rr]

Like I said, that FBI section chief had probably been waiting to use that for a while.

I also find it ironic that back in December the FBI was talking about this for British visitors to the US, and others, and now all of the sudden it's expanding.

[KoRn]

Woohoo! Lets go sign up!

[af_vet_rr]

Unfortunately there is nothing to fight here - the FBI is going through with this.

Next week you'll open up Business Week and read about the company (or companies) that have been awarded the contracts for this. It's a done deal. It probably helps that REAL ID is supposed to standardize a lot of states' licenses and databases so that they can be tied together.

This stuff sounded very tinfoil several years ago. It's not so tinfoil now that the FBI is days away from announcing the contracts and companies that will be handling it.

[microgood]

The FBI cannot be trusted with our DNA. Additionally, any massive undertaking to get citizen DNA will probably have about a 40% error rate.

[Robert357]

To get a conceal pistol license, I had to do the finger print and palm print thing. No choice.

Between surveillance cameras, all kinds of mandatory fingerprinting, drug testing, and secure forms of ID, I think that 1984 has come and gone and big Brother is with us.

[ASOC]

I have often said that I support a National ID card with lots of biometric data —

It’s te expense of those long leather coats and snap brim fedoras for the FB&I that bothers me so much.......

[diverteach]

I’m so frickin’ sick of where this country is at and where it’s headed. It’s WAY past time for a revolt and take OUR country back.

[rhombus]

Hey no problem. The Gov’t can collect this when I show up for my first Gov’t health care checkup... along with our regular national War on Drugs urine tests. ;-) As long as they don’t ask for an ID at a polling place. /s

[rednesss]

[vpintheak]

Lets just start up the Ministry of Information and get it over with.

[A_Tradition_Continues]

Before my Dad’s passing he talked seriously about moving our businesses off-shore and relocating to Belize. I very well may follow-up on his idea.

[Fiddlstix]

Sounds more like the bureau of George Orwell.

I guess the FBI considers 1984 an instruction manual.