DHS Chief Doesn't Know the Difference Between Privacy and Identity
Friday Dec 15, 2006
I just read an article where Home Security Chief Michael Chertoff say that in the REAL ID plan security and privacy go hand in hand. Unfortunately, he apparently doesn't know the difference between identity and privacy.
The REAL ID act essentially creates a national ID, although the actual issuance and administration is palmed off on the individual states. Even if it worked as Chertoff claims (which it doesn't) it lessens your privacy, not improves it. Having a 100% reliable national ID would protect your identity, not your privacy. If it truly were 100% reliable (which of course it isn't) then it would become extremely hard to steal someone else's identity. But for it to do that, the ID would have to be checked at all transactions, thus tying them all together and eliminating your privacy. So identity and privacy are decidedly not the same thing.
Unfortunately, the REAL ID act also does not eliminate identity theft as claimed. As well know security expert Bruce Schneier says in this article: "It's a bad idea, and is going to make us all less safe. It's also very expensive. And it's all happening without any serious debate in Congress."
Technorati tags: privacy,security,realid,identity
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