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Drivers License Swipes Raise Privacy Concerns

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the step-away-from-the-card-reader dept.

Clubs in New York, New Jersey, and elsewhere are requiring patrons to give up their drivers licenses for a swipe through a card reader. Some bars do this too. The card reader displays their birth date and the establishments let it be assumed that the only purpose of the swipe is to check the customer's age. They rarely if ever disclose that the personal data stored on the license — the customer's name, address, license number, perhaps even height, weight, and eye color — go into a database and are retained, perhaps indefinitely. While a federal law forbids selling or sharing data from drivers licenses, there is no prohibition against collecting it. A few states have enacted such prohibitions — New Hampshire, Texas, and Nebraska. Privacy advocates warn that such personal data, once in a database, is bound to be misused. From the article: "'I don't see no problem,' said [a club-goer], 22. 'That happens every day on the Internet. Any hacker can get the information anyway.' [A Web media executive] said such reactions aren't surprising from a generation accustomed to sharing personal information on Web sites such as Facebook.com and Myspace.com. 'The kids don't care,' [he] said, 'because only old people like you and me suffer from the illusion of privacy these days.'"

6 of 313 comments (clear)

  1. It's true by kamapuaa · · Score: 4, Funny

    Good quote, it's funny because it's true. My myspace pages (and I have like 7 or 8 of them) all list my name, address, license number, height, weight, and eye color. I don't understand old people not listing their license on their myspace pages. How are you supposed to know if it's really them?

    --
    Slashdot: providing anti-social weirdos a soapbox, since 1997.
  2. I guess it's a good thing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    That I'm under 21 and use a fake id!

  3. Mating instinct vs privacy concerns... by Bamafan77 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Aaah, evolution makes life so simple at times. In my younger days (I'm a ripe old 29 now), if a blood sample would bump me to the front of the line at a hot club in LA, I'd have gladly given it up. Thank goodness, I've matured since then. . . . . hehe, just kidding. I'd still cough up the blood sample. :)

    1. Re:Mating instinct vs privacy concerns... by Dachannien · · Score: 4, Funny

      In other words, you'd give up a blood sample now for a small chance at the opportunity to give up a semen sample later?

  4. Re:It shouldn't matter. by BootNinja · · Score: 5, Funny

    You know that sound you're hearing? That's the sound of sarcasm doing a flyby on your head.

  5. Re:Bummer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
    Aren't you allowed to have sex or buy alcohol if you are under 40 where you live?


    No.

    He lives at his parents' house.