|
National Identity Safeguard System
|
|
On December 4, 2003, President Bush signed legislation that will help Americans fight identity theft. Among other things, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act calls for free annual credit reports, controls over credit card numbers, and creation of a “fraud alert” system to be used when identity theft is suspected. Unfortunately, these positive steps will barely put a dent in this burgeoning epidemic. Identity theft cost Americans a staggering $53 billion in 2002, according to a recent Federal Trade Commission report. Its 10 million victims also incurred non-monetary costs, such as embarrassment, lifestyle disruptions, and lost time. According to a GAO study, some victims spend as many as 175 hours, trying to put their personal and financial lives back in order. Even more alarming is the astonishing growth rate of identity theft. Since 1998, complaints to the FTC have nearly doubled, each year. There is only one tool that can effectively thwart the identity thieves: a national identity system, comprising a well-guarded central registry, and microchip “smart cards,” issued to U.S. residents. To be effective, the registry and the smart cards would have to include positive biometric identifiers, based on iris scans, fingerprints, or facial features, etc. However, there is no reason for the system to contain sensitive medical, financial, or personal data. It could exist solely for the purpose of ensuring that we are who we claim to be. Critics from all parts of the political spectrum worry that a national identity system would lead to “big brother” intrusions into our personal lives, but, in reality, it would do the opposite. It would make it harder for people, in and out of government, to gain access to our personal information. Currently, we use two main identification tools to protect our private information: the Social Security number and the driver’s license. The Social Security number is found in countless data bases – governmental and private – with scant controls. How many governmental agencies, hospitals, schools, ex-employers, banks, etc. have our Social Security numbers, and how many people working in those places could use those numbers to gain access to confidential information? Do we really want to continue having our private and personal information safeguarded by the ubiquitous Social Security number? The driver’s license has its own problems. First, it only applies to drivers, or those who represent themselves as such. Second, the authenticity standards of driver’s licenses vary from state to state. (Consider for example, California’s liberal new policy, which even allows illegal aliens to get licenses.) And, third, the data bases used by the states are not fully integrated. An identity thief could assume your identity and simply go to another state to get a driver’s license. If he wants it, “big brother” (and lots of little brothers) can get your personal information right now. A secure data base, guarded by uniform and tight disclosure laws, and protected by hi-tech biometric safeguards, would only make it harder for people to get that information. For those who remain unconvinced that a national identity system is needed, consider the other big benefit of such a system: deterrence to terrorism. We know that most of the September 11 hijackers were in this country legally, but what about the ones who were here illegally? The entire scheme might have been thwarted if a single illegal hijacker, wanted by immigration authorities, had been discovered by means of a central identification system. And, even with regard to the so-called “legal” hijackers, a national identity system would have been helpful. Many of these legal hijackers had multiple state driver’s licenses, enabling them to pretend to be residents of the various states in which they were operating. This deception would have been impossible if we had a national data base. Identity theft is growing out of control, and it is threatening our economic prosperity and privacy. A national identity system could dramatically curtail identity theft, without intruding into our personal lives. In addition, it would give law enforcement officials a powerful tool in the war against terrorism. It is time to establish a national identity system. To Home page>>
|
|
Public Program Testing Organization
©2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
|