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No ID Cards in the Future

Posted by michael on from the bend-over-and-wait-for-it dept.

dmf writes "Throw away your identification cards! CNet is running a commentary piece on what the author perceives to be contradictions of privacy as technology continues to evolve our future. What boggles the mind is how social forecasters can so easily bypass longstanding privacy concerns by simply ignoring the horrific examples of abusive governments throughout history. How can a responsible thinker so easily shrug off the need to protect oneself from the unknown abuses of the future just because one may think things are relatively agreeable at present?"

5 of 268 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Dear, americans... by EMDischarge · · Score: 2, Informative

    Don't gloat for too long because you might miss the lobbying that is currently occurring over there with the aim of imposing similar restrictions ala the DMCA...

    --
    Quintus malus puer est.
  2. Not quite accurate by ThinkingGuy · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Straight Dope on Hitler and gun control

  3. Bread & Circus by limekiller4 · · Score: 3, Informative
    michael writes:
    "How can a responsible thinker so easily shrug off the need to protect oneself from the unknown abuses of the future just because one may think things are relatively agreeable at present?"

    A lethal combination of:

    Any of these suck, alone. Together it could get nasty.
    --
    My .02,
    Limekiller
  4. Have you READ the patriot act? I have by enkidu · · Score: 4, Informative
    And so have these people. They articulate the problems with the PATRIOT act much better than I could hope to, so I will defer to their eloquence.

    The ACLU has a good summary of what you're asking for here: http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID =12263&c=206

    The EFF has their analysis here: http://www.eff.org/Privacy/Surveillance/Terrorism_ militias/20011031_eff_usa_patriot_analysis.html.

    And the Center for Democracy & Technology has a long list of links here: http://www.cdt.org/security/usapatriot/analysis.sh tml

    Now go read at least one of these links before making anymore comments on how you don't think the Patriot act isn't bad for your freedom. EnkiduEOT

    --

    There is no trap so deadly as the trap you set for yourself
    -Raymond Chandler, The Long Goodbye
  5. Re:Interesting... by An+El+Haqq · · Score: 2, Informative


    Several months ago I read a post here that got me thinking about my SSN. According to the post, the SSN was not intended to be an ID number, but has gradually evolved into one. (Anyone who can post a reference to confirm this would be appreciated. I Googled around for a while but could only find references that equated SSN with ID).


    Find someone older who has an SSN card. It was printed on the card itself that the number was not to be used as an ID.


    You could also read the FAQ at the ssa ( http://www.ssa.gov/history/hfaq.html):

    Q21: When did Social Security cards bear the legend "NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION"?


    A: The first Social Security cards were issued starting in 1936, they did not have this legend. Beginning with the sixth design version of the card, issued starting in 1946, SSA added a legend to the bottom of the card reading "FOR SOCIAL SECURITY PURPOSES -- NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION." This legend was removed as part of the design changes for the 18th version of the card, issued beginning in 1972. The legend has not been on any new cards issued since 1972."