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Ellison's ID Card Plan Gets More Attention

Posted by michael on from the powered-by-Oracle dept.

fredbox writes: "A Mercury News article reports Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and John Ashcroft have been meeting to discuss creation of a national ID database including fingerprints, facial scans, etc. Other supporters include Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, Sun Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy. They claim these cards would be 'voluntary', much as the act of leaving your home or purchasing groceries are voluntary activities." Update: 10/18 01:48 GMT by M : Hah! btempleton writes: "Here is a prototype of Larry Ellison's new national ID card."

3 of 701 comments (clear)

  1. Just for the record. by mindstrm · · Score: 2, Flamebait

    Income-tax in Canada is also 'voluntary'.

  2. Hmmmm, SO? by friday2k · · Score: 3, Flamebait

    Just please educate me. What is so wrong about the card? If you would like to have an ID card, something that the US do _NOT_ have, and it carries your picture and your fingerprint, what again is so wrong with that. In my homecountry, Germany, you have to register with the city you live in, tell them where you live and, if you move, unregister with your old city and register in the new one. They can always track you. You have to have an ID card. It carries your address, height, weight, place of birth and your picture. If you move within the country (see above) you have to have it updated. True, it does not carry your fingerprint, but it has a nice little code that gets scanned when you travel by airplane, etc. It is compatible with the electronic readers at immigration that you guys might be familiar with. And I even think there is a fine if you do not carry it with you. So how is the proposed ID card so much different? I personally would like it if people have to register in a more thorough way if they travel with me on an airplane. Please do not get me wrong, systems can be abused and there are enough examples of that, but I do not see that coming with a national ID card system.

  3. Challenge to Privacy Advocates/Zealots by ez76 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    In anticipation of hundreds of redundant "big brother is watching" posts,

    I challenge every poster who wants to tell us about all the problems inherent in a national ID card, to instead suggest alternative solutions that increase national security while protecting personal liberties and freedoms (or at least not infringing upon them).

    Note: Suggesting appeasement of fundamentalist Muslim demands earns you no points. Let's hear some real ideas.