Was gonna just post the link, but then everyone comments without having read any of the article. At least this way, the lazy people will have hopefully skimmed it or something.

From CNN.com:

The FBI is gearing up to create a massive computer database of people's physical characteristics, all part of an effort the bureau says to better identify criminals and terrorists.

The FBI wants to use eye scans, combined with other data, to help identify suspects.

But it's an issue that raises major privacy concerns -- what one civil liberties expert says should concern all Americans.

The bureau is expected to announce in coming days the awarding of a $1 billion, 10-year contract to help create the database that will compile an array of biometric information -- from palm prints to eye scans.

Kimberly Del Greco, the FBI's Biometric Services section chief, said adding to the database is "important to protect the borders to keep the terrorists out, protect our citizens, our neighbors, our children so they can have good jobs, and have a safe country to live in."

But it's unnerving to privacy experts.

"It's the beginning of the surveillance society where you can be tracked anywhere, any time and all your movements, and eventually all your activities will be tracked and noted and correlated," said Barry Steinhardt, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Technology and Liberty Project.

The FBI already has 55 million sets of fingerprints on file. In coming years, the bureau wants to compare palm prints, scars and tattoos, iris eye patterns, and facial shapes. The idea is to combine various pieces of biometric information to positively identify a potential suspect.

A lot will depend on how quickly technology is perfected, according to Thomas Bush, the FBI official in charge of the Clarksburg, West Virginia, facility where the FBI houses its current fingerprint database. Video Watch what the FBI hopes to gain »

"Fingerprints will still be the big player," Bush, assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division, told CNN.

But he added, "Whatever the biometric that comes down the road, we need to be able to plug that in and play."

First up, he said, are palm prints. The FBI has already begun collecting images and hopes to soon use these as an additional means of making identifications. Countries that are already using such images find 20 percent of their positive matches come from latent palm prints left at crime scenes, the FBI's Bush said.

The FBI has also started collecting mug shots and pictures of scars and tattoos. These images are being stored for now as the technology is fine-tuned. All of the FBI's biometric data is stored on computers 30-feet underground in the Clarksburg facility.

In addition, the FBI could soon start comparing people's eyes -- specifically the iris, or the colored part of an eye -- as part of its new biometrics program called Next Generation Identification.

Nearby, at West Virginia University's Center for Identification Technology Research, researchers are already testing some of these technologies that will ultimately be used by the FBI.

"The best increase in accuracy will come from fusing different biometrics together," said Bojan Cukic, the co-director of the center.

But while law enforcement officials are excited about the possibilities of these new technologies, privacy advocates are upset the FBI will be collecting so much personal information.

"People who don't think mistakes are going to be made I don't think fly enough," said Steinhardt.

He said thousands of mistakes have been made with the use of the so-called no-fly lists at airports -- and that giving law enforcement widespread data collection techniques should cause major privacy alarms.

"There are real consequences to people," Steinhardt said. Video Watch concerns over more data collection »

You don't have to be a criminal or a terrorist to be checked against the database. More than 55 percent of the checks the FBI runs involve criminal background checks for people applying for sensitive jobs in government or jobs working with vulnerable people such as children and the elderly, according to the FBI.

The FBI says it hasn't been saving the fingerprints for those checks, but that may change. The FBI plans a so-called "rap-back" service in which an employer could ask the FBI to keep the prints for an employee on file and let the employer know if the person ever has a brush with the law. The FBI says it will first have to clear hurdles with state privacy laws, and people would have to sign waivers allowing their information to be kept.

Critics say people are being forced to give up too much personal information. But Lawrence Hornak, the co-director of the research center at West Virginia University, said it could actually enhance people's privacy.

"It allows you to project your identity as being you," said Hornak. "And it allows people to avoid identity theft, things of that nature."

There remains the question of how reliable these new biometric technologies will be. A 2006 German study looking at facial recognition in a crowded train station found successful matches could be made 60 percent of the time during the day. But when lighting conditions worsened at night, the results shrank to a success rate of 10 to 20 percent.

As work on these technologies continues, researchers are quick to admit what's proven to be the most accurate so far. "Iris technology is perceived today, together with fingerprints, to be the most accurate," said Cukic.

But in the future all kinds of methods may be employed. Some researchers are looking at the way people walk as a possible additional means of identification.

The FBI says it will protect all this personal data and only collect information on criminals and those seeking sensitive jobs.

The ACLU's Steinhardt doesn't believe it will stop there.

"This had started out being a program to track or identify criminals," he said. "Now we're talking about large swaths of the population -- workers, volunteers in youth programs. Eventually, it's going to be everybody."

sorry i am one of the lazy readers but got half way down would read more but have to go home im at work. my comment is that i think what i have read so far is invasion of privacy. and i don't like it

don't like it either

Umm and this is new?? I think not, they have been gearing up for years on this. Did you miss all the phone tap stuff that has been going on since 9/11??

Plus most Americans don't even have a clue what our constitution and Bill of Rights even say anymore. You know how many "rights" our government has already taken away because Americans are too scared to even stand up and say something???

A great point is even right here today on JSH. You can get banned for mentioning a name or some form of specific identity relating to a user..even if its TRUE! That is the truest form os "censorship" and the clearest violation of "freedom of speech" if there ever was one. However, since JSH has thier own terms and rules, its what has to be. But if that same thing was to happen outside here, people would still be afraid to take thier RIGHT and use it!

We are fortunate to be Americans, but the American people have become selfish, apathetic and cowards! They stand for NOTHING anymore and let the corrupt government continue on the same "course".

So this being any real news?? Not if anyone has been paying attention since at least 9/11.

i agree we haven't in the past, but we've only just begun to stand up brother. there is an exponential factor to it that will be beautiful

Sumthing - It's nothing new, I realize that. This is just a significant manifestation of what has been happening since 9/11 so I felt that it was relevant to post.

As for the freedom of speech, that only applies to the government making laws. Any private entity is allowed to regulate speech as they please. The Constitution only grants us positive freedoms in relation to our government.

looks like i'll be picking another country to live in

I understand and agree. However such things as "freedom of speech" do go beyond that boundary to any "public" place as well. For example, you can be in a grocery store, even though it is a 'privately owned company" it is still considered a "public domain" area since the public is welcome to come and go as they please. same type of thing with picketing..can be "private property" however, if any "public access" is granted, you then have the right to be there with a picket sign.

So it can be a little complicated, but you are correct, that those freedomns do not extend to everywhere all the time. just like the freedom of speech does not give someone the right to run into a crowded theatre and yell "fire!". you have to look at the "intent" of the law instead of the "letter" of the law.

So I did not mean any offense against your post. i just get frustrated because of the apathy of Americans today. And once all this is gone, people stand around and wonder "what happened???" when if they were paying any attention along the way they would have seen it all coming.

This all come from Bush telling us we needed the Patriot act. Giving cops the go ahead if they think something might be happenening they can enter a premice without a warrant. All in the name of freedom. This has spread all through our Govt. Council members pass laws now at thier own descetion. You can be arrested and charged for non sence and the judge has full control (at least where i have seen) whether to throw it out or make you go through a trial. With full immunity from any kind of civil action. Just think back the last few years and you will see the things i have said. They are taking more of our rights everyday. A reseccion hurts who the most? The middle class. What happens everything of value, housing ex.. In the early 80's loans were being called by the banks for full payment. You did not have to be behind in payments. Read the fine print. I saw this happen. Then these farms were put on the auction block. Thing were selling at around 10 cents on the dollar. I saw a farm and equipment sold like this and the rich was buying it up. Buyers of companies were sent out through the country looking for forclosure sales. Now you see 150k hog farms polluting our water. Make the middle class poor makes 2 classes the rich and the poor. Anything the poor sees as wrong they can not do much about it. THe Farm Bereau tried to form years ago to get the farmers to form one unit. Selling being done when they were told. This did not work out and we have many 1k + corporate farms now.They have us as long as we put up with it. To stop it. Stop production. Those who hate the unions you are the ones who also benefited from them without paying dues. Hard times very well may be comming. Do not believe just because you have never missed a payment that you can not loose you house.If recession comes. Unionize and stop production in this country. It will be the only power you have. And the rich need production or the wheels turn on them.. IMO......Miles

In reference to surveillance tools being used against Americans, 9/11 and other terrorist assaults on America has shifted the balance between our privacy and our security. What was considered Orwellian for years and years now seems perfectly reasonable, even necessary in order to protect us against terrorist attacks. The war against terror has forced us to look at our civil liberties differently. We are being forced to make basic trade-offs in our privacy for security.

If you willingly give up your freedoms, Then you don't deserve freedom or peace. Like they say freedom is not free, We have to assert and insist on our rights, because the weasels(serpent people) are always working against us. The Serpent People know exactly who they are too, They even refer to themselves as the serpent people, most of us probably never heard about that situation.They often refer to us as cattle.(stupid cattle)

Ah yes, in contrast with the overly intelligent cattle.

Smo.....

In order to have true freedom, sometimes one has to give up certain liberties. That quote comes from Civics 101.

Smo..... just because people call you a stupid cattle, please don't put the rest of us in that category.

The last time I went to the DMV to get my license renewed I did not get the card right away. They gave me a paper facsimile of my card, which folded in half and was good for 30 days. Saying my real I.D. would be in the mail within 5 business days. Which really sucked, because I was scheduled to take a flight to the east coast in 4 days. As it turned out.. Many of the TSA agents were not taking this form of ID (And apparently having multiple forms is regarded as OK.. It can be subjective..) I could have been stuck on the east coast for a really long time. A few days after my flight left without me.. A news report came out about a local woman who was stuck in Las Vegas.. and her ID was locked in a mailbox here then returned to DMV. I'm not sure how or when she ever got back.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DMV'S+TEMPORARY+LICENSE+HANDS+OUT+VALID+ID...-a0170486668

The reason for this is Oregon has become a Central Issuance State, in compliance with Senate Bill 640. Which requires all the pictures go through a facial recognition process first.
This is also in compliance with the Federal Real ID Act of 2005. Which states that everyone will have a compliant form of I.D. by December 1, 2017. http://biometricbits.com/Real-ID.pdf

Does this make me nervous? Not really.

The last time I looked I am not wanted. If I was? I might be nervous. In many ways, this technology will be an aid as well as a hindrance. It will be practically impossible in the near future to pretend to be me with a fake I.D.. I like that. Provided I stay unwanted...and with the inevitable advancement of the technology.. I should be able to move pretty freely without being accosted by a law enforcement agency because I look like someone else. I like that too. I was once accused by an eye witness, while I was leaving work, of armed robbery of a liquor store. About an hour and a half later I was released due to mistaken identity. Thank God I worked in the same complex as the store and was a friend of the owner.

The downside? I can also be tracked, camera view to camera view. So if I want to hide in plain sight? I won't be able to. This can be dangerous if the Government felt I was out of compliance of some law or standard I cannot yet foretell.

Can we trust our Government to use this information in a healthy way? Probably not... Will that have a negative effect on the average citizen? Probably not. No more then the various glitches we have in our current system.

The cold hard fact is this.. This technology is an inevitable outcome of the age we live in. We can protest all we want, but we will both reap the benefit and suffer the consequence no matter how much we protest.

I actually develop DVR systems used in specialized video surveillance, these days as a significant part of my overall engineering business. So..in some aspects... you can say I am part of the machine that is putting these systems in place. I am familiar with the current capabilities and inabilities of biometrics, and where the industry is headed. Right now? It is not the greatest threat.

The little embedded radio transmitters they want to attach to our ID cards..and are currently implementing in our passports are.

There is a growing network of passive receivers that can download data as you come within range of them.. Right now? If you use your bank card at the grocery or gas station..you can be tracked... but soon you can be tracked just walking in a door or standing in line at a check-stand...
Right now? There is no true repository for this information. It has to be sought.. But soon..the FBI will be able to follow you at will, simply by pushing a button or two.

Not to mention..Someone like me can pretty easily determine the radio frequency that the transmitter, (by using a spectrum analyzer and dipole antenna) in your pocket is sending on and build an appropriate completely undetectable receiver. I'd know your name, address, account, ID, phone..etc.. simply if you walked within a few feet of me.

That's a bit scary, ain't it?

Jistme - this type of logic has long been argued by supporters of random drug testing and "stop and frisk" police tactics. Simply because we are innocent does not mean that we shouldn't worry about throwing away our rights and freedoms. The point is that these rights and freedoms exist, they exist for all of us, and they exist for a reason. The theory that "if you're innocent, you won't mind" is a slippery slope argument that, taken to its logical end, could technically justify any police officer coming into your home whenever they please, searching your car whenever they please, and listening to all your phone calls whenever they please (the last one is essentially a reality anyway). My point being that it is a dangerous way to think, and allows rights and freedoms to become simply straw men.

I do see your point. I really do. But... This is nothing new. As technology progresses.. our world both gets larger and smaller, simultaneously.
What do we do about it?
We cannot change the will of those who want to invade our privacy.

Do you think that people felt any different about the British then they did the beginning Government of our newly founded Country?

Do you think that there was a time in our history that we felt safe from the eyes upon us?

Do you believe that this Country has ever truly had the best interests of the people in mind?

I do not.

It is a technology driven phenomena. The sentiment has always been there to control and watch us.. They being the elite and privileged in power. It has only changed in how they go about it. It will always be a struggle that slides in and out of balance... We can fight it all we want, but cannot stop it without a radical change. That change may require a number of us to force it. Not protest it. We are not that sick or that tired of it yet. So.. I choose to live within the system that is in place until such time that more of us are angry about it.

Fighting the technology is about as silly as shooting myself in the foot. The technology you write about is not the issue.. it is simply the means.

I also know that for any measure... there is a countermeasure. The only way to be in touch with those counters is to be in touch with the technology at hand.

I agree wholeheartedly with that as the best countermeasure. Still, I don't like to think that it is the only one. We can't change the will of those trying to invade our privacy, but I have hope that we can change them out of office at least. Perhaps it will get to the point that there are no potential politicans left who will stand up for privacy rights, but I don't think we're there yet.

As soon as you figure out a way to eliminate the elite and privileged in power? Without a mass rebellion? I'd be interested in hearing it.

The system we have had in place since day one is not working to that end.

If I knew exactly how, I'd have started the revolution by now. In the meantime, I just spend all my time campaigning for candidates which I believe are geared towards a new mentality in government.

Unfortunately.. The upcoming race has very little to do with that. With the exception of the administrative power of veto...

We would be better off with a more unified Congress. However.. the process necessary to getting to that end, is pretty muddied by the lobby. Any single minded group who has the courage to truly stand against the system may win a popular vote.. but will never get to see their names on a ballot, or if they do and win..will hardly ever stick around long enough to be a power and make a difference.

Our legislative branch is way too special interest and money driven.