Ellison's ID Card Plan Gets More Attention

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."

Comments

How about a fair trade?

[Anonymous Coward]

Dear Mr. Ashcroft,

I would be willing to enroll in your new National ID program, surrending my fingerprints and facial scan in exchange for a sworn affidavit from you that the reources of the FBI will be spent chasing criminals and not harmless copyright infringement. That is to say, no more working for RIAA, MPAA, Adobe or any other monopolistic commercial interest.

Sincerely,

John Q Public.

Neeeeat!!

[mc2Kleen]

If I'm really good and I turn in lots of bad, bad terrorists will the government bump me up to Platinum card status?

And if so, can I get mine with Pokemon or my favorite sport's team emblazoned across it?

Re:Neeeeat!!

[ackthpt]

If I'm really good and I turn in lots of bad, bad terrorists will the government bump me up to Platinum card status?

Maybe, but I'd go for the Blue Jeans myself... Oh, wait, this isn't 1970's USSR, nevermind..

So... If someone steals my ID card, what's the diff between that and them stealing my Passport? I've already been told, with a beard I look like a terrorist :(

How will karma be updated?

[MarkusQ]

As far as I can see, this isn't a very well thought-out plan. For example, they say (under "other information to be tracked") that they are going to store everyone's karma. But will this be karma from slash-dot proper, or from some other site that uses slash code? How will we know? And, even more seriously, how do they expect to update it? I don't think we can just piggy-back on the e-bay update system, although I do see the merits of keeping the number of spinal implants to an absolute minimum.

I know this may sound like a silly thing to quibble over in such an important plan, but I think we (like all special interest groups) have a right to be heard.

-- MarkusQ

P.S. I am quite relieved to see that they dropped the idea of trying to track mod-points real-time. That would have been a nightmare!

Re:Too hard to keep up with...

[CmdrPinkTaco]

all your freedom are belong to CIA

Liberty, Freedom, Pursuit of Happiness - for CEOs?

[WillSeattle]

Let me see if I get this straight.

We, the slaves, in order to more perfectly serve our corporate masters, consent by not doing anything to the removal of our constitutional rights to Liberty, Freedom, and the Pursuit of Happiness. In addition, we agree to the suspension of our constitutional rights to freedom from unusual search and seizure, the lack of proper posted warrants in the removal of those rights, and the extensions of patents and copyrights beyond the time periods specified in that Constitution.

I don't think so.

You have to fight for your right to party!

Re:driver's license argument

[gnurd]

i jerk off a lot, its not illegal, but i dont want george bush to watch either.

Re:Too hard to keep up with...

[Script0r]

that was the basis of their original ad campaign, "the mark... as seen in the bible"

Re:Ninety days?

[kettch]

On the other hand, the faster it goes into effect, the less time M$ will have to try to get it based on hailstorm. Thats all we need:

terrorist: "Just a few bits of code, and a buffer overflow, and my name changes from Achmed bin Muhammed, terrorist to George Johnson, stock analyst."

Microsoft: This tragedy was not our fault, we blame BUGTRAQ for releasing news of this vulnerability to the public.

Dear 31337 haxx0rs,

[rho]

For your first l33t hacking job on this onerous and invasive abortion of an idea, I recommend cloning Larry Ellison's ID card.

Imagine the ease with which we can catch all terrorists and thugs since they'll all be named "Larry". What a great concept! Thanks for your assistance in this matter.

So...

[sulli]

Do I get a Yellow Card as a warning, and a Red Card when I'm about to be thrown out of the country?

Re:So...

[well_jung]

You should be kicked out for making a Soccer reference. This is America, damnit! We don't care about your silly little futbol.

Re:Ellison is a lying sack of shit

[sulli]

Love that moderation:

Ellison is a lying sack of shit (Score:3, Informative)

No kidding!

Re:Ninety days?

[BeBoxer]

Larry's part is easy:

SQL> CREATE TABLE identification_table (
Name text,
Address text,
SSN text,
Politicial_Affiliation text,
Credit_Rating text,
Criminal bool
);

Of course, the job of filling and maintaining the
database might take a bit longer.

Here is a prototype of Larry's new ID card

[btempleton]

The first one's free, little government.

Click for Larry's Card

Re:How do we build a 'negative' database?

[Anonymous Coward]

Other than being completely different, nothing.

Smart chip ID card

[Alsee]

To maximize the usefulness of the National ID card it pretty clear it should have a smart chip embedded. That way airport security / police officers / DMV / IRS agents / toll booths / librarians can simply wave your ID cards over a reader to automatically access any personal data they think might useful. If it is decided that you are a hijacker / criminal / overdue parking tickets / toll dodger / overdue books then that duely authorized government representative can immediate update the data on your ID card to appropriately deny you the right to access the relevant services.

As an interactive digital device, all ID cards will naturally be required to include RIAA/MPAA approved Digital Rights Management Technology.

3 months later...
Heay - wait a minute! When did all of my CD's, my walkman, library withdrawals, video rentals, fax, copier, camcorder, cell phone, and my computer operating system become keyed to my ID card?