State DMVs Developing National ID System

EPIC ^ | January 14, 2002

[Israel]

Volume 9.01 January 14, 2002

Published by the

Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)

Washington, D.C.

http://www.epic.org/alert/EPIC_Alert_9.01.html

State DMVs Developing National ID System

A Task Force of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) announced plans today to increase uniformity of state driver's licenses and information sharing between states and law enforcement agencies. The AAMVA proposal combines several initiatives, each with very different privacy implications, and asks for $100 million in federal funding to determine what technology should be used and to expand information sharing capacity. Efforts to enhance document security and prevent forgery, such as improved holograms and printing techniques, are a positive application of technology to the driver's license regime. The AAMVA also advocates stricter enforcement and tougher penalties for fraud and abuse of driver's licenses occurring inside and outside of DMVs.

Standardization of driver's license security features and issuance standards across the 50 states, as well as information sharing with federal agencies and state law enforcement, would make the driver's license a de facto national identity card. The AAMVA has not disclosed how the detailed personal information required to obtain a license, including residency and immigration status and social security information, will be collected, used and shared under the new program. The AAMVA has also proposed making the driver's license a unique identifier. While they have not yet determined what technology will be implemented, they plan to use biometric or other identifiers to positively ensure that license applicants are who they say they are, and that no person holds more than one license. This proposal presents the most significant privacy and security risks, which are detailed in EPIC's ID Card and Biometrics pages referenced below.

The possible creation of national identification cards through driver's licenses deserves careful examination and open public discussion. EPIC is in the process of drafting a memo discussing the risks and policy implications of national identification schemes, to be prepared in time for the AAMVA's leadership summit, where the heads of the state DMVs will discuss the task force's recommendations.

AAMVA's website (including an archived webcast of the January 14th press conference):

http://www.aamva.org/

EPIC's ID Card Page:

http://www.epic.org/privacy/id_cards/

EPIC's Biometrics Page:

http://www.epic.org/privacy/biometrics/

[Israel]

We all have a responsibility now.

• Draw your line in the sand; know what you won't tolerate yourself and what you won't inflict on others.

• RESIST the police state. Nobody can tell you which specific actions you should take (or not take). But you can start by reading Henry David Thoreau's powerful essay, "Civil Disobedience" ( http://www2.cybernex.net/~rlenat/civil1.html ) and Thomas Paine?s "Common Sense" ( http://www.vt.edu/vt98/academics/books/paine/common_sense ).

• Share this message with at least 12 other people who also care enough to live?not just talk about?freedom. Send this message to law enforcement officers, former peace officers, National Guardsmen, people in the military, and employees in all levels of government.

[Joe Brower]

[GailA]

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