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At a price of $1 billion, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is undertaking construction of a biometric database that will store a lot more information on individuals including fingerprints, facial characteristics, sound patterns, iris, ear lobe, and palm prints.

An excerpt from Ars Technica:

Moving forward, the FBI expects to make this comprehensive biometric database available to a wide variety of federal, state, and local agencies, all in the name of keeping American safe from terrorists (and illegal immigration). The FBI also intends to retain (upon employer request) the fingerprints of any employee who has undergone a criminal background check, and will inform the employer if the employee is ever arrested or charged with a crime.

The database is being developed in collaboration with the Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR) at West Virginia University. Physical characteristics such as scars, walking and talking styles will also be stored to identify individuals. The technology is supposed to make possible the detection of individuals from a distance of 200 yards (facial recognition).

The Next Generation Identification System, as the new project is called, seeks to provide real time comparison and follows several such projects under the FBI’s aegis.

Questions remain on the availability of mechanisms for addressing misinterpretations in the system and its effect on civil liberties. The always-on surveillance society is becoming a reality.

More details:

FBI plans to expand biometric operations in state (DailyMail)

FBI Aims For World’s Largest Biometrics Database (InformationWeek)

I am a technology enthusiast who believes self-improvization is the key to a contented life.

Print/View all Posts Comments on this blog

Perhaps they might share this with local law enforcement? Photogenic Memory | 12/26/07
duplicates Dr Dij | 12/26/07
The genome would be one single aspect of the database info. Photogenic Memory | 12/28/07
That's right Dr Dij | 12/28/07
The planning for such a massive information gathering campaign? Photogenic Memory | 12/28/07
the answer: Dr Dij | 01/01/08
happy new year! Merry two thousand and 1984 everyone ;) Neon Samurai | 01/02/08
Basically, you mean the unscannables don't qualify for Burrito coverings? Photogenic Memory | 01/02/08
Data safety is a concern also Neon Samurai | 12/29/07
This type of database does not have "it's" advantages. Absolutely | 01/12/08
Is this neccessary or accurate? normhaga@... | 12/26/07
And what makes you think Finger Print Evidence is Accurate? HAL 9000 | 12/28/07
I don't normhaga@... | 12/29/07
Big Bro jjleggieri@... | 01/02/08
So, what.... normhaga@... | 01/02/08
normhaga jjleggieri@... | 01/03/08
Feel free to surrender your rights, but do not presume to require ... deepsand | 01/02/08
Deepsand jjleggieri@... | 01/03/08
As stated, you can but speak for yourself alone. deepsand | 01/07/08
I don't trust you. Absolutely | 01/02/08
Moron? jjleggieri@... | 01/03/08
Not just *anyone* with whom I disagree, you're in a league of your own. Absolutely | 01/03/08
You've just earned the title of "Idiot," one that I grant with great rarity deepsand | 01/07/08
Paranoid? jjleggieri@... | 01/03/08
Not to mention a very large number of sane persons duly concerned about ... deepsand | 01/07/08
This ranks as among the "Best of 2007?" deepsand | 12/26/07
Yup; I mis-read. But looking at the correct "Best of" list, ... deepsand | 12/26/07
RE: FBI to construct massive biometrics database merlin38092@... | 12/28/07
DNA collection Dr Dij | 01/02/08
RE: FBI to construct massive biometrics database robertcass123@... | 12/30/07
fbi robertcass123@... | 12/30/07
What's FBI mean? HAL 9000 | 01/03/08
Yo Bob jjleggieri@... | 01/03/08
Wake-Up Sonja Thompson! norin.radd@... | 01/01/08
You've got it... amtrader@... | 01/02/08
hopefully Fox News viewers will be a minority vote this time around (nt) Neon Samurai | 01/02/08
Actually, he was wide of the spot by a country mile. deepsand | 01/02/08
You may wish to re-read the article before casting stones. deepsand | 01/02/08
Thanks, deepsand Sonja ThompsonTechrepublic Moderator | 01/03/08
It's like you just came out from a Win95 nightmare. norin.radd@... | 01/03/08
you lost me at the leetspeek crap Neon Samurai | 01/04/08
Are you off your meds again? deepsand | 01/07/08
Ah, the old Oldschool Noob gag seanferd | 01/14/08
double plus post seanferd | 01/14/08
The pleasure was mine. deepsand | 01/07/08
Right jjleggieri@... | 01/03/08
Time for you to use your right brain a bit less, and deepsand | 01/07/08
RE: FBI to construct massive biometrics database Xwindowsjunkie | 01/02/08
The Beast and the Microchip norin.radd@... | 01/08/08
don't believe everything you see on TV Neon Samurai | 01/09/08
Oh, goody - another infomercial. deepsand | 01/11/08
The Most Effective Mind Manipulation Technique norin.radd@... | 01/11/08
With santeewelding | 01/11/08
weight ratio... norin.radd@... | 01/12/08
what did weight ratio have to do with the previous comment? Neon Samurai | 01/12/08
I don't know about norin.radd [yet?], but with santeewelding Absolutely | 01/13/08
I'll be sure your on the recipient list for the decoder rings ;) Neon Samurai | 01/14/08
Well, you may be in (on?) "it," but I'm certainly not. deepsand | 01/16/08
Conversation santeewelding | 01/14/08
"done to blunt any appearance of attack" Absolutely | 01/14/08
Transparency santeewelding | 01/14/08
"'Cepting the very last" ? Absolutely | 01/15/08
Before youtube, they used to have too hand out pamphlets on street corners Neon Samurai | 01/12/08
Interesting story. deepsand | 01/16/08
perhaps I should have included more of a summary Neon Samurai | 01/17/08
Re. "one person's "rights" above another's." deepsand | 01/19/08
advanced tech and Australian military would be my guess for defense Neon Samurai | 01/19/08
Still, there's no safeguard against tyrannies of the majority. deepsand | 01/19/08
you put far more thought into it than I did Neon Samurai | 01/20/08
more manipulation and data collection for y'all seanferd | 01/14/08
The moral - remain faceless. deepsand | 01/16/08
You seem to be stuck in a loop. deepsand | 01/16/08

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