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Real ID Act increases security, raises concerns |
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Thursday, 22 February 2007 |
by DYLAN CLAYTON
News Reporter
Personal identification cards are about to get a whole lot more personal.
The Real ID Act of 2005, signed by President George W. Bush as part of the 9/11 Commissions’ Emergency Supplemental Appropriation for Defense, the Global War on Terror and Tsunami Relief, 2005, is drawing increased public attention.
According to ncsl.org, the Web site for The National Conference of
State Legislatures, the Real ID Act requires states to meet certain
federal requirements in identification cards.
“The Department of Homeland Security will specify what information will
go on the identification card, which for most people will also be their
driver’s license,” Dr. Matt Robinson, associate professor of political
science and criminal justice, said. “Every state has to have the same
basic information on their ID.”
Minimum requirements for the information that will appear on a person’s
driver’s license or identification card are the person’s full name,
person’s date of birth, sex, photograph, signature, physical features
and a common machine-readable technology.
“The 9/11 commission set forth dozens of recommendations for national
security. In that sense, it’s a good idea,” Robinson said. “The
motivation is that the people who highjacked the airplanes on Sept. 11
used fake, state-issued IDs. In Virginia, the terrorists only had to
have someone verify who they were and they were given an ID.”
The 9/11 Commission recommended many changes to national security that also needed to take place, Robinson said.
“The major downside is that this is really the last opportunity to
prevent a terrorist activity. If a terrorist is going to highjack a
plane or blow up a building, the last chance to stop them is when they
walk through the door,” Robinson said.
There is also the underlying issue of invasion of privacy.
“I understand it’s going to be used for national safety, but I feel it
could be abused by the government checking on citizens,” Mary Kate
Foley, a senior public relations major and political science minor,
said.
“I see a potential for it to get out of hand like the Patriot Act. It’s like Big Brother,” Foley said.
Robinson agrees there is an issue of the invasion of privacy.
“The bottom line is we know the federal government has been gathering
as much information as they can. We recently discovered the President
signed an order allowing federal agents to read people’s mail and
another allowing federal agents to read e-mails,” Robinson said.
The cost of new identification cards may also cause national concern.
“The prices will dramatically increase for an ID. Some groups have done research and have estimates of $100,” Robinson said.
“Bottom line, this is being done to increase safety, but the number of
groups, both conservative and democratic that oppose this is
incredible,” Robinson said.
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