FBI to Build $1 Billion Biometrics Database

I was on assignment to photograph the press conference of the unveiling of this biometric device in Boston. Officials from Homeland Defense were on hand to speak and answer questions. Several arriving flights came through and foreign visiting passengers were all recorded using these devices.

The whole scenario reminded me of Benjamin Franklin's quote, "They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security". It's just an observation. I haven't yet formulated my own solid opinion of this new procedure.

carltonsoohoo has contributed a photo to this story.

I'm glad I don't live in the US when I read stuff like this (although things aren't all that good in Europe either). To me the only answer is a transparent society in which we can watch the watchers.

It's too late in my opininon to stop these sorts of things. The only option now is to go completely off the grid (which for many including myself is not an option).  It always starts off small, and in the name of "but you will be safer this way", to now, when we will be voluntarily giving over our biometric data. The same way that our SSN has been abused... originally the government said the SSN was to ONLY be used for tax purposes, but that's not techincally true anymore. You can't get a job, you can't get a bank account, you can't buy a home, etc... without handing over your SSN now. Pretty soon, the REALID act will be passed (there is some opposition, but I don't think it will be enough). So mix in this biometric database, your passport with rfid, the REALID act, Carnivore, Echelon, and your spending history via all credit card transactions, not to mention a video camera on every street corner and we have become 1984. How did this happen? The general public is asleep, and we've been scared into giving up our privacy. Sad.

One other comment... these are all programs that we know about... what scares me are the programs we don't know about. 

An Iraqi man is cheked with a retnal scanner.

jamin220 has contributed a photo to this story.

Breaking News: May 8th, 2028

The state department today has unveiled plans to improve the national ID act put into action 20 years ago today. On May 8th, 2008 the citizen was required to carry a card containing their social security number, date of birth, physical address, various biometric features as well as an RFID chip. The RFID chip has made tremendous strides in it's ability to help the public. Failure to carry the National ID card resulted in prompt imprisonment as a sponsor of anti government actions. These terrorists have been removed from society and pose less of a threat than ever before.

Today the government has made the process even easier. In an effort to prevent pollution from the plastic required to make National ID cards, you are invited to get your new Compulsory Organized RFID Regional Universal Personal Tag (CORRUPT for short)
CORRUPT will be implanted in your forearm and provide you the same great benefits you have grown accustom to.

Some benefits you already take advantage of:

- Using its technology traffic officials have been able to locate congested driving areas by tracking individual drivers. With this information they have been able to reroute traffic to other areas.
- Police officers have used this technology to locate criminals and missing victims.
- State run department stores have used information gathered from your purchasing habits to better produce advertisements that are important to you.
- All Debit, Credit, and other financial accounts are condensed into one card.

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So I write this article in Jest, with serious undertones. As few are aware, "The Real ID Act, passed by Congress and signed by President Bush on May 11, 2005, mandates that all U.S. citizens will receive a National ID card by May of 2008" The National ID card is a card which will be mandatory to carry on your body at all times. It functions as your primary form of ID and will be required whenever you; Drive your car, Board a plane, train, or bus, Enter any federal building (including post offices), Open a bank account. The National ID will also be required to Hold a job in the US. (http://www.nonationalid.com/ 2007)

The card is said to contain a litany of security measures up to and including; Biometric information (Fingerprints), Social Security Number, 2d bar code, magnetic strip, and finally worst of them all RFID.

For the non tech savvy. "An RFID tag is an object that can be applied to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification using radio waves. Some tags can be read from several meters away and beyond the line of sight of the reader." (Wikipedia 2007)

I'm not sure about you guys. But I have no interest in letting the national government, or anyone for that matter, have the ability to track my every move as though I were a product.

Here's the scary part. RFID Is already mainstream. Master card/ Visa cards that allow you to "Tap it" or "Pay and go" both utilize RFID technology. All new U.S. passports have a RFID tag built into the front cover.

Finally, I think God says it best:

Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Revelation 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Mitchkitter has contributed a photo to this story.