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Feds To Have Unified Biometric Federal ID System
An anonymous submitter writes "There have been rumors flying among the scientific community about a proposed standard for 'Personal Identity Verification' by the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). According to the standard, all federal employees and contractors would require a 'PIV "card" that is "personalized" with data needed by the PIV system to later grant access to the subscriber to Federal facilities and information systems.' Besides the likely efficacy questions, concerns in the scientific community concern what impact this will have on our foreign collaborations (or even grad students)."
Like when it comes to the national ID debate, people forget that many free nations have national IDs. That's not to say we need them in the US, but this screaming that a national ID is the precursor to a police state is silly. Western Europe is a clear counterexample to that.
The reason I tend to be opposed to this sort of thing is it is generally spending money on things that do nothing to help. It's kinda like gun registration which costs a lot and is essentially useless, a feel good move that in teh end just wastes money without changing anything.
However all this screaming over biometrics/national IDs being the end of freedom is just stupid. Better and more standardised forms of ID do have legitimate uses, and are in use in many free nations across the globe. The real question should be what do we get from this and, if it's not sufficient to justify the costs, then it should be stopped for that reason.
"Besides the likely efficacy questions, concerns in the scientific community concern what impact this will have on our foreign collaborations (or even grad students)."
:P
Well, it is simple: They will carry a card with them.
Don't even start whining about the "rights" of those who "choose" to enter another country. You know what is going to happen in advance and have a choice, so to those who complain, I say: STFU and start your own America if you think you can do better.
Isn't that like the pot calling the tea kettle black
Please. The proper terminology is African American.
Take off every sig. For great justice.
I'm gullible because I believe that the attacks on the USS Cole, the first World Trade Center bombing, the second World Trade Center decimation were *NOT* the work of the US gov't?
No, you're the fucking fruit loop for believing that OBL and Al Qaeda are anything BUT bent on our destruction. You probably also believe that the Pentagon attack was really a US drone?
Fucking moron. At least you're probably a relatively powerless moron (small comforts =).
So I am a troll for bringing up the fact that people entering a nation have no right to dictate the measures that nation uses to identify and track them? How about the fact that foreign students DO NOT dictate policy in other nations?? This is retarded.
This shit moderation has reduced slashdot to nothing but one-liners and carefully worded flames. I mean, really, how can you discuss anything in realistic fashion when it only takes one or two people who disagree to moderate the post into extinction?