Privacy and the Government: Identification

Let's talk about the Real ID Act or PASS ID, the name by which the Real ID Act is masquerading today. Chances are you haven't heard of it, unless your initials are S.W. In this article we will talk about what the act is (including a brief history of its changes), what it entails, and who is going to participate in it. Most importantly what are the implications for your privacy. The importance isn't whether or not these acts have passed, as the Real ID has been refused by many states and the PASS ID doesn't have a much better future. What is important is the information the government wants and what it has repeatedly tried to organize and gather it.


What is the Real ID Act
On the surface the Real ID Act seems to simply set standards for acceptable government identification. However, it does not affect just federally issued ID's it sets the standard for all state issued ID's as well. Congress didn't stop there the act has more implications. It deals with visas, destroying laws that inhibit or restrict the building of physical barriers at the boarders, and basically who they can arrest and have expel from this country. The official word from the government is that this act is to protect privacy, as Michael Chertoff tells us. Though, to some ears such as past presidential hopeful and senator Ron Paul, it doesn't sound like protection of privacy, it sounds like organizing and controlling the populace through fear mongering.


Facts
What is required by the Real ID Act to get a "real Id"?

• A photo ID, or a non-photo ID with full legal name and birth date
• Documentation of birth date (such as a birth certificate)
  
• Documentation of legal status
  
• Documentation with Social Security Number (SS Card)
  
• Documentation showing both name and principal residence address
• Documentation must be authenticated by each time presented

Don't forget, that any documentation you present will be verified, scanned and stored in a database, of course. This has all remained under the PASS ID except in regards to the birth certificate, which does not have to be verified. Instead of a list of what's require to gain an ID try to view this what information will be verified and stored indefinitely.
What's on the card?
Information wise the card will hold much of the same information as state ID's did before. Birthday, weight, height, picture, etc. Though there will be a lovely gem added, an RFID chip. Which, if you don't know, is used for tracking and remote access to information. Don't forget that the picture on the idea has to be digitally recognizable to international data programs.
Who has to have it?
For all intents and purposes, everyone. If you want to enter a federal building, open a bank account, fly, apply for Social Security benefits, student loans, open a post office box, or drive you're going to need one. I don't know a single person who won't have to switch over to the new form of ID.

Personal Conclusions
People need to wake up. The PASS ID is the governments second attempt to create and standardize a national ID. An ID that can track you, that carries all your information, stores your documents indefinitely in a digital database, and one that you can't escape from having if you want to function within our society. Additionally this ID links your information to an international identification system. If this or any of its assured reincarnations pass it will be the end of privacy as we know it.