Leonard Pitts Jr.: Every Year Brings Us Closer to 1984

[marmar]

from the Miami Herald, via CommonDreams:



Published on Monday, February 11, 2008 by The Miami Herald
Every Year Brings Us Closer to 1984
by Leonard Pitts Jr.


In the beginning was the fingerprint.

It was in the 19th century that scientists realized the ridged whorls on the tip of the finger constituted a unique marker that could be used to tell one person from another. And eventually, the FBI built a massive database of fingerprints.

Then came DNA. In the 20th century, scientists learned to use the double helix nucleic acid molecule as a means of identification even more definitive than the fingerprint. And the FBI built a DNA database as well.

Now the feds are building yet another database. And it has some folks worried.

Maybe you missed it in the run-up to Super Duper Tuesday, but CNN and the Associated Press reported last week that the FBI will soon award a $1 billion, 10-year contract for construction of an electronic file that would store not just fingerprints and DNA, but a vast compendium of other physical characteristics. We’re talking eye scans, facial shape, palm prints, scars, tattoos and other biometrics, all for the purpose of identifying and capturing bad guys.

But at least one privacy advocate thinks even good guys — and gals — have cause for concern. Barry Steinhardt, director of the ACLU’s Technology and Liberty Project, told CNN, “It’s the beginning of the surveillance society where you can be tracked anywhere, any time and all your movements, and eventually all your activities will be tracked and noted and correlated.”

I know what you’re saying and it makes a certain amount of sense: If you haven’t done anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about. Well, I haven’t done wrong, but it worries me just the same.

Still, I am forced to admit that in a way, there is nothing new here. The government has for years collected fingerprints — not just of criminals, but also of certain job applicants. And no one raises any concerns about that. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/02/11/6985/

[Captain Hilts]

1. Check out his "I Am a Feminist" essay. Great stuff. nt