FBI Prepares Vast Database of Biometrics

MacRonin sends us to the Washington Post for a story about the FBI's plans for a large biometric identification database. The Post also has a chart detailing the characteristics of the different methods of identification. We discussed the ethics of a similar situation a few months ago. Quoting the Post: "Next month, the FBI intends to award a 10-year contract that would significantly expand the amount and kinds of biometric information it receives. And in the coming years, law enforcement authorities around the world will be able to rely on iris patterns, face-shape data, scars and perhaps even the unique ways people walk and talk, to solve crimes and identify criminals and terrorists. The FBI will also retain, upon request by employers, the fingerprints of employees who have undergone criminal background checks so the employers can be notified if employees have brushes with the law."

Comments

How the...

[Unlikely_Hero]

How am I supposed to try and keep my irises private if they can be read without my knowledge?!
What am I supposed to do? Get tin-foil-sunglasses?

Re:I'm going to sell the FBI Phrenology Biometrics

[KDR_11k]

and perhaps even the unique ways people walk

So we're going to see the Ministry of Silly Walks?

Re:Haven't you guys...

[ColdWetDog]

(... the story of our world under the cold and emotionless eye of the almighty computers ...(not brilliant, but rather anticipatory and fits in here))

Bah, I am comforted by Bradley's Bromide:

If computers get too powerful, we can organize them into a committee. That will do them in.