Mulling over George Pope to STEVE ASHER 06 Jan 2005

Hi George...

SA> One of the current arguments that I hear on talkback shows etc in favour
SA> of a national ID card is that "we already have a wallet full of ID cards
SA> - drivers licence, credit cards, loyalty cards... it is hard to remember
SA> PINs and passwords... one card would be more convenient" etc. The chip
SA> will be "more convenient" because it will usually be in
your person -
SA> you won't accidentally leave it home, you can be identified easily if
SA> you are unconscious or wander off from your retirement village etc
SA> (where "you" means anyone with the chip).

 GP> Another argument in favour of it,that's not generally mentioned, is
 GP> that it will drastically reduce crime (no cash to steal -- no way
 GP> to anonymously pawn stolen property either and/or buy/sell drugs!)

The whole thrust of RFID is to mark "everything" with a unique number,
probably even with an internet IP V6 address. The thief will have a
chip, the stolen TV or laptop or whatever will have a chip, the money
(cash, while still available) will have a chip etc. The whole process
of buying & selling anything, including labour for wages, will leave
an audit trail for law enforcement, taxation, licencing etc.

 GP> The danger, of course, is someone will figure out how to cut off
 GP> hands and scan them in at bank machines/etc.! :P

Criminals will be thinking ahead... it will be "easier" for them to
invade the home of a bank manager and force him to transfer bank
funds to some portable device (mobile phone, laptop etc) instead
of trying to hold up the bank, with its security guard, cameras,
time delay safes, pop-up screens etc. Or, they could kidnap his
wife or child & hold them hostage until he transfers the funds
etc. However, the bank (or employer etc) will have software
to detect unusually high or suspicious transactions including
fraud, & alert the authorities, together with the location of
whoever is trying to transact, etc.

Since most of this stuff is a solution looking for a problem,
it will be easy for those standing to make a bundle from biometrics
and RFID to ensure that any minor details like cutting off hands
can be overcome.

Cheers, Steve..

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