44.493
Issues in Criminal Justice Technology & Security
Ohio
police give another woman's identity to undercover stripper
Identification
Identity cards are highly
controversial because, on one hand, they are perhaps the best
tool (especially if they include biometric chips) to establish
a person's identity, and, on the other, there's strong opposition
because of the way they were used, among others, by the Nazis
and the Afrikaners to persecute minorities.
They've gotten increased attention
in recent years because of the terrorism threat, especially as
a way of keeping potential terrorists out of the country.
Currently, the major controversy
deals with whether there should be a uniform
national standard for all drivers' licenses, which would make
the license a de facto national identity card. This issue
makes for some strange bedfellows: some liberals, such as Robert
Kuttner, argue that -- if the license was coupled with a requirement
that private data base firms clean up errors in their data bases
-- that the card might actually be advantageous, while a combination
of left
and right-wing
groups argue that they are an unacceptable threat to the right
of privacy.
Arguments for National Identification
Card:
- might actually reduce amount
of information being accumulated about us: "Right now, we
liberty-loving Americans have the worst of both worlds. Far too
many databases keep far too much information on us, with too
few controls on its misuse." "By accurately identifying
those who are in the U.S. legally and not on a terrorist watch
list, the card would reduce the temptation to go after random
members of specific groups."
- could be used to facilitate
voter registration and increase turnout, by making it possible
for you to simply present your identity card and vote.
- might be harder to counterfeit or compromise
- could help control illegal immigration.
"let's decide just what level of immigration we want, make
it possible for those immigrants currently working in the country
to regularize their status, and then use a national ID card to
make clear who is able to work -- and to freely exercise rights
as workers without fear of being deported."
- would reduce identity theft.
- could make certain all children
were vaccinated, could reduce underage drinking, reduce problem
of elderly people renewing drivers' licenses simply to have identification.
- could be used as quid pro quo
to force reform of privacy invasions and snooping: "There
should be tougher penalties if an HMO sells confidential medical
records. We need stronger measures against unwanted telemarketing,
and against abuse of credit records."
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