In May 2005, Congress passed the "Real ID" Act, which requires states - starting in May 2008 -- to issue federally approved driver's licenses or identification (ID) cards to those who live and work in the United States.

Unlike the USA Patriot Act and other politically sensitive pieces of legislation, Real ID has not made many headlines. Real ID was initially voted down in the US House. But then it was reintroduced, and tacked onto the 2005 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Defense, the Global War on Terror and Tsunami Relief where it was approved by congress without public debate.

The Real ID Act's identity cards will be required if one wants to drive, visit a federal government building, collect Social Security, access a federal government service or use the services of a private entity (such as a bank or an airline) that is required under federal law to verify customer identity.

The IDs must include a "common machine-readable technology" that must meet requirements set out by the Department of Homeland Security. And, somewhat ominously, Homeland Security is permitted to add additional requirements -- which could include "biometric identifiers" such as our fingerprints or a retinal scan.

It's that "machine-readable technology" requirement, along with the possibility of Homeland Security add-ons, that raises the most serious risk that the Real ID Act will cause privacy violations. (The fact that the technology must be "common" also raises the already-high risk of identity theft.)

Many commentators predict that radio frequency identification (RFID) tags will be placed in our drivers license. (Other alternatives include a magnetic strip or enhanced bar code). In the past, the Department of Homeland Security has indicated it likes the concept of RFID chips.

RFID tags emit radio frequency signals. Significantly, those signals would allow the government to track the movement of our cards and us.  This is already required in farm animals.

Private businesses may be able to use remote scanners to read RFID tags too, and add to the digital dossiers they may already be compiling. If different merchants combine their data -- you can imagine the sorts of profiles that will develop. And unlike with a grocery store checkout, we may have no idea the scan is even occurring; no telltale beep will alert us.

Should Alaskans silently accept this "mark of the beast" or fight for our Constitutional rights?  Should HB-3 be adopted in Alaska or should our legislature instead send a resolution to the U.S. Congress demanding repeal of REAL ID?  Contact your legislator and the governor today.  Tell them what you think about REAL ID!  Make the call while you still can!!!

Related links:

REAL ID, real problem - Anchorage Daily News article:
http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/8694108p-8592305c.html

Anchorage TV news: http://ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=6175984

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