Biometrics (was Re: Evaluating opinions ...)

[Fairlight]

In the relative spacial/temporal region of
Fri, Jun 04, 2004 at 11:06:01AM -0400, Kenneth Brody achieved the spontaneous
generation of the following:
> 
> Fourth Ammendment:
> 
>     The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,
>     and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be
>     violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause,
>     supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the
>     place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
> 
> Please tell me what rights are violated here.  And please tell me how, if
> this violates those rights, "show me some ID before I'll let you in" is any
> different.  (Or do you feel that asking for ID is a violation as well?)

IANAL.  The only thing I can think of is that by being subject to a
fingerprint or retina scan, you're being 'searched' without probable cause.
Without probable cause, nobody should have the right to access what is
tantamount to medical records, unless there is prior voluntary agreement,
as in the case of employment or other access to facilities.

Of course, it's also -technically- illegal to use your SSN for anything
other than dealings with the Social Security system, but try getting into
university without using it.  Good luck.  I've never been told how they
manage to get around that.

I question the validity of fingerprint analysis anyway.  Yes, it's been
used for years, and it's been admissible in court far longer than DNA
evidence, but DNA testing is actually far more accurate.  Apparently
fingerprint analysis is open to interpretation and there is a fairly wide
margin for error and interpretation.  

Of course, -I- see the entire lot as just another way to gather intel on
people and "plug them into the system" so everyone can be constantly
tracked.  As if there wasn't enough paranoia and Big Brother-ism going on.
Watch--next the FBI, who got their telephone wiretap-readiness law and are
now shooting for online tapping readiness, will also want immediate access
to the biometric scanning results of private companies and organisations
without requiring a warrant.  It never stops.  I'd lay odds that if/when
biometrics comes into its own in more widespread use, this -will- be
something TPTB go after the ability to access at their convenience without
having to explain themselves.

I saw a satire several years ago saying that UPC codes were really a
prototype experiment for something that would have the same acronym:
Universal People Codes.  It was joked about as being the supposed mark of
the beast, etc.  After everything from the FBI's wiretap-readiness mandate
to the Patriot Act[s], I have to wonder if it was satire or prescient--
barring the religious overtones, of course.

mark->
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