Re: FYI:GOV - Your Papers, Please?

Eugene Leitl (eugene@liposome.genebee.msu.su)
Fri, 3 Jul 1998 16:00:44 +0400 (MSD)

VirgilT7@aol.com writes:

> None of which you can do right now without some form of government
> identification. I don't see the above as a big deal at all.

Passive, pigment-marked (laminated) cellulose ID is one thing. A smart card, possibly with a short-range transponder is another thing entirely. Or ubiquitous biometry readers.

For what's this is worth: I am against compulsory IDs of any flavour. Having reliable, remote, realtime identification/authentication is crucial, but it should be a) voluntary b) retractable at any time. Orelse this opens up a can of worms, economy size.

Do you see it now?

'gene