USA: EPIC FOIA Request
Seeks Homeland Security Documents
EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center) has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request last week with the Office of Homeland Security asking for detailed information on Director Tom Ridge’s proposal to create a new biometric identity card for air travelers. Director Ridge said in his February 24th speech to the National Governor’s Association, "I do think that this might be a great opportunity for us to do some work with biometrics, and get a trusted flier program," and that he would be working closely with the new Transportation Security Agency (TSA) in developing this program.
In a related matter, EPIC has filed a lawsuit to obtain information
from the TSA on its biometric identity card proposal (see EPIC
Alert 9.05). EPIC is also seeking further information about
draft legislation that would link the driver’s license expiration
date to visa status, which the Office of Homeland Security is
reported to be
preparing for various states to adopt.
Both proposals from the Office of Homeland Security implicate
serious privacy and security risks. One proposal contemplates
creating a new federally-issued identity card using biometric
identification that has significant privacy implications; the
other aims at expanding the purpose of a driver’s license into
a realm that has nothing to do with
road safety. There is a strong public interest in understanding
how these proposals are being formulated, and assessing the potential
privacy implications of such proposals requires full and informed
public debate on the design and purpose of the new systems.
EPIC believes that substantive proposals from the Office of Homeland
Security involving important constitutional values and rights
should be subject to public oversight.
Statewatch comments further: The US government plans to introduce biometric identity codes ties in with its declared plans – revealed in negotiations with EU officials over future EU-US cooperation – that all visitors to the US will be required to hold biometric documentation. Such a move would add to the suggestions that a similar requirement be established in the EU.
Office of Homeland Security: http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/
"Ridge: Link Driver’s License, Visa," Federal Computer Week, 15 March 2002: http://www.fcw.com/geb/articles/2002/0311/web-driver-03-15-02.asp
EPIC’s DOT/TSA lawsuit: http://www.epic.org/open_gov/foia/DOT_complaint.pdf
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