Biometrics

Talk of a biometric id has been in the media and posted on websites and blogs that discuss conspiracy theory for the past three decades. But no one saw any evidence that the biometric id would actually come to fruition in the near future. Now, a national biometric id is not far away. New technology and the creation of a biometric id system by Microsoft take the concept out of the imagination, and soon into our wallets.

The technology by Microsoft is currently used only in businesses. But a push is being made to move this technology into public use by governments. The biometric id card is digitally signed, and information is stored on a bar code to verify that the information on the card is correct. This prevents alterations to the id cards. However, Microsoft has not stopped at bar codes.

Also available is the technology to add retinal scans, iris scans, and fingerprint scans to the biometric id card. This would allow anyone with system access to check the id against fraud by comparing the retinal, iris, or fingerprint scan encoded on the card with that of the person presenting the biometric id.

Plans have been laid for some time to use this technology for government systems such as social services departments, police departments, and other government agencies. This would allow government officials to obtain all information known about an individual by scanning the biometric id or getting a fingerprint scan from the individual. However, congress has yet to pass legislation that would allow such uses for the biometric id to be possible.

There are many advantages to a biometric id. First, the biometric id would cut down on underage drinking and smoking across the nation. While anyone with the money and resources to purchase the cost effective technology could create the biometric id, the average high school student and young college student would not be able to create fake id cards. This would prevent the unknown underage sales of alcohol and cigarettes that occur daily across America.

The creation of fake id cards would also be limited by the illegal aliens that attempt to come to the country without visas and obtain employment. While the ability to get fake biometric ids made would be more likely in this segment of people, it would still be more difficult than with the present systems. However, to fully put a stop to fake id cards, the biometric id card systems would need to be monitored in such a way that anyone purchasing the system would need to be a registered buyer. This would cut down on illegal uses and creation of fake biometric id cards.

There are also some disadvantages to the biometric id cards, mostly privacy related. Many Americans are not comfortable with the tracking that could occur and the invasion of personal privacy that could happen with the implementation of biometric id cards. However, proper legislation passed by congress with the implementation of the biometric id card system could head off these concerns.