Stop Real ID Coalition

Stop Real ID Coalition's New Web Site

2008-10-10T04:22:00.003-05:00

An exciting new phase has sprouted!

Please change your bookmarks/favorites to point at our NEW Web Site.

This blog is now obsolete and will be taken down in the future. It has been replaced by a full and robust website at:

SB 717 Does repeal the Real ID Act BUT!!!!

2008-07-09T00:22:00.002-05:00

First, I would like to thank those at GovTrack.us for the valuable service they provide. It allows for citizens to track legislation and much more.

SB 717 does repeal the Real ID Act but it also restores section 7212 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. It is our contention that the same Tenth amendment arguement that surrounds the Real ID Act holds merit also with regard to SB 717. We simply do not agree that the federal government has the constitutional authority to dictate to States requirements regarding the issuance of State driver's licenses. In addition section 7212 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 calls for a digital facial image. Some will argue Real ID is voluntary. We counter that with the unlimted discretion provided the Secretary of Homeland Security to put in place restrictions which we call penalites on those that do not have Real ID compliant driver's licenses, Real ID is not voluntary but mandated by coercion. Yes, DHS does allow for substitutes documents if a citizen does not have a Real ID compliant license but those documents also require the collection of biometric samples.

It is our humble opinion that the federal government should have provided leadership, funding and counsel to States but it should have been the States that passed laws regarding their own licenses. The federal government has taken a slege hammer to resolve an issue that could have been resolved with a hammer. All to often when a sledge hammer is used it ends up destroying what a simple hammer could have repaired.

Real ID will not be fully implemented until 2017. The States could have worked out on their own the best way to create tamperproof driver's icenses and the vetting breeder documents such as birth certificates. The States could have enacted measures that would be far less invasive and certainly less costly in a much more timely manner. Leadership, not laws is what is called for by the federal government.

We believe supporting SB 717 is sacrificing one Amendment, the Tenth to preserve other Amendments. Our view is the Bill of Rights creates bookends in the First and Tenth Amendments. If either the First or Tenth Amendment is sacrificed one of the bookends falls. When one bookend falls all the books or Amendments between the two bookends will eventually be threatened and fall.

We appreciate the SB 717 calls for a negotiated rulemaking process unlike the rulemaking process for the Real ID Act. Groups that get a seat at the table will have little influence on the final rules. But even if they did have influence it doesn't change the fact the federal government is getting in the business of the issuance of State driver's licenses.

On another matter we have serious question related to the no bid contract it appears AAMVA was awarded. We have questions related to what role EDS will play.

On a final note we recomment that each person become familiar with FIPP (Fair Information Practice and Principles). Although FIPP has not been codified it is recognized by our government with other nations. I would encourage people to read the information provided from the following link http://www.ftc.gov/reports/privacy3/fairinfo.shtm
We belive FIPP should be codified by the federal government, States and even organizations. FIPP direxctly addresses the issue of transparnecy regarding the collecting and sharing of information.

As a point of information. We have been invited to a conference this month. Lawmakers from many parts of the country will be attending. We will have the ability to meet with lawmkaers in both large and small settings. We will have model legislation for lawmakers to take back to their home States.

We make no bones about it. We are preparded to debate or discuss Real ID or SB 717 with any representative of the federal government or any State lawmakers who support Real ID or SB 717. We will also debate any special interest organization that supports either Real ID or SB 717.

We do not suggest we have never made mistakes. We correct them as soon as they come to light. Unlike some we oppose we will admit if we have misrepresented no matter how unintentionally something we have said. We only ask that citizens hold the federal government to the same standard.

Biometrics President Bush New Executive Order

2008-06-14T16:06:00.004-05:00

President Bush signed an Executive Order June 6, 2008. This order specifically concerns the use of biometrics by federal agencies and departments. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080605-8.html

As I have gone from one coast to another across our country it is very apparent to me that Americans do not fully appreciate the attack on our Constitution that is taking place. The overwhelming majority of the public have never heard of the Real ID Act 2005. Of the few that have most do not know that biometrics (facial recognition) plays a significant role in the Real ID Act. The digital facial image required by the Real ID Act must meet international standards adopted by the ICAO, an U.N. agency, for compatibility with facial recognition software.

Our government has spent millions of dollars on CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) cameras otherwise known as surveillance cameras. The FRVT (Facial Recognition Vendor Test) 2006 focused on a number of items including 3D facial recognition technology. 3D facial recognition technology is what is ideal for surveillance applications.

http://face.nist.gov/mbgc/ I strongly urge each person to review the information provided by this link. Specifically you will see one of the goals was to test facial recognition with video.

With the use of CCTV and facial recognition our government will be able to identify you whether you are walking down the streets in your home town, visiting someone in another state or in another country.

Most people do not realize the digital surveillance cameras now being installed throughout our country are going to be aimed at us, the public. I am not talking about simple video cameras. The majority of people think of video CCTV cameras that can be replayed if there is a need. The new digital CCTV cameras can capture a person's facial image and then compare that captured image against a database of facial images. This can be done in real time. This technology and the use of it is not new to our government. Once a person's image is compared to database of facial images that person's identity will be known to a person sitting behind a computer monitor. That same person will have access to state and federal databases as well as databases maintained by data mining companies such as ChoicePoint. In real time that person at the computer monitor will be making a subjctive opinion as to whether the person the camera is aimed at presents a threat to our government. If you are not familiar with Project Hostile Intent you should research it. According to the American Psychological Association, Project Hostile Intent will allow for our behavior to be judged in real time to assess whether we present a threat.

The federal government under the provisions of the 1994 Driver's Privacy Protection Act has access to our personal information stored in any State's DMV database. This is precisely why DHS wanted the digital facial image required by the Real ID Act to be in accordance with ICAO adopted standards for compatibility with facial recognition technology. DHS added the requirement for the digital facial image to the Real ID Act so DHS could get around the provisions of the 1974 Privacy Act. They argue now it is not DHS but rather the States that will be collecting the biometric facial image. Although perhaps that is technically true, it is undeniably true that DHS is mandating the States collect the biometric facial image and that DHS knows they can get it from the State DMV databases without a warrant or probable cause. The digital facial image and the standard for it create a biometric sample which is then used to create biometric data from which a template is created.

Th FBI announced they are going to spend $1 billion to create the world's largest biometric database. Where does anyone think the biometric data for the database will come from?

Yes, there are databases that the federal government does have that currently do contain some biometric data but the Real ID Act will allow for the collection of all licensed drivers biometric samples. The Real ID Act's primary motivation is to enroll Americans into an international biometric (facial recognition) identification system.

REAL ID WILL CREATE A SURVEILLANCE SOCIETY.

L-1 Identity Solutions has become the de facto issuer of Real ID compliant driver's licenses and the enhanced driver's licenses that can be used in lieu of passports to cross our borders. They also have been awarded a contract to produce Passport cards. This same company has provided their facial recognition technology to a Chinese businessman that is competing in a trial by Red China to acquire facial recogntion technology. There is a valid question that must be asked, Has L-1 broken federal law that prohibits the transfer of this technology to China. The company's argument will be they did not provide the technology directly to Red China. That being said they did provide it to a Chinese citizen knowing he would provide it to the government. In fact Chinese authorities have already approached the Chinese citizen and asked that he use the technology to identify dissidents. L-1 gets a percentage of all revenue this "businessman" would get from the Chinese government.

L-1 a few months ago announced they were purchasing Digimarc's license division. Between the two companies they control nearly 95% of the U.S. production of State driver's licenses. You would have thought there would be anti-trust considerations. Instead of L-1 having face anti-trust issues they were granted a free pass by the Federal Trade Commission. That should be of no surprise to anyone. The Board of Directors of L-1 reads like a Who's Who list of former heads of government agencies and departments incluing the likes of George Tenet and Admiral Loy among others.

L-1 formerly known as Viisage Technology has a PDF page that is titled "Real ID Solutions". On that page is picture of a driver's license that has a person's political party on the front of the license. I cannot speak for everyone but I believe it is a fundemental right of all Americans not to have to divuldge their party affiliation unless they want to. Obviously when voting a voter registration card serves the purpose if needed to provide a person's politcal party of choice. A driver's license is seen by retailers, banks and others that have NO business knowing yours or mine politcal affiliation.

Robert Mocny of DHS has made no secret of the fact that DHS not only intends to share biometric and other personal information with other governments but also with corporations. He asks the question, How is it right not to share?

The DHS went to great lengths to hide the fact that facial recognition samples are going to be collected under the provisions of the Real ID Act. It is only in the footnotes of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that the standard for the photo (digital facial image) mandated by the Real ID Act can be found. Many of the state and national lawmkers I have met with including the committee staffers and counsel I have met with had no idea of the significance of the standard for the digital facial images. In short, they were not aware the standard was international or that it meant the photos collected by States for driver's licenses would allow the federal government to be able to spy on each of us.

Many times I have heard people say that if a person is doing nothing wrong then they have nothing to worry about. That is not true. Facial recognition technology does not work well in a surveillance application. An IBG (International Biometric Group) study conducted specifically states that facial recogntion technology will not work when large databases such as the one called for by the Real ID Act are used. As a matter of fact there is a very good chance a person will be misidentified as someone other than who they are.

Aside from First, Fourth and Tenth amendment issues, the Real ID Act has another major downside. DHS has named AAMVA (American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators) the "backbone" of the Real ID Act. AAMVA is an international organization. AAMVA is promoting the Driver's License Agreement. The agreement calls for the United States, Mexico and Canada to share all drivers information stored in each country's respective DMV databases. Grant money from the federal government has been available to States to participate in the DLA. http://www.aamva.org/aamva/DocumentDisplay.aspx?id=%7BC600908E-2538-4135-8166-1B25BB682698%7D This is the precusor to the North American Union otherwise named the Security and Prosperity Partnership. If we want to stop the NAU or SPP we MUST repeal the Real ID Act. I have the actual DLA paperwork. Scary does not do it justice. It threatens State's rights and U.S. sovereignty.

Mark had just returned from Washington D.C.

2008-05-07T12:32:00.001-05:00

Mark Lerner was in D.C. the week of 21 April 08. He attended the hearing by the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia that was just about the Real ID Act and WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative).

Mark had the opportunity to speak with a Senator, Chief of Staff of another Senator, the counsel for a Senator on a very important committee that is looking hard at the Real ID Act 2005 and several key committee people representing a number of committees in the U.S. Senate. Mark does not provides the names of the people he meets with. They ask that he use discretion and appreciate their doors are open for him. Mark has agreed to this for now.

Mark also had the opportunity to speak with several people in the media. He is currently bringing them up to speed.

Mark will be providing in due time a letter that he has sent to each person he spoke with in person in D.C.. That letter will appear on this blog within two weeks, First, Mark wants to wait on the replies he gets and see just who on the "Hill" is going to do something and who will not.

We appreciate what each of you has done and is doing so that Mark can continue to fight this battle for all of us including our children and grandchildren.

Currently there are people working on bringing Mark to their own respective states to do speaking engagements and to meet with state lawmakers.

Mark has asked that I post on this blog his desire to do more radio shows. He has the time to do them now and over the next couple of weeks. We ask that you assist in getting Mark in touch with producers and/or the host of the programs to schedule the time and date. This is very important to schedule these shows in advance because Mark's time is limited for radio shows. He feels it is equally important to speak with the public as it is to speak with lawmakers on the state and federal level. We ask that you make the original contact with the producers and/or hosts, Feel free to share with them the information packet we provide you with. If you don't have the packet then email Mark directly at stoprealid@aol.com He will get the packet out to you by email within 48 hours and in most cases within 24 hours. By each of you making the original contact it allows Mark more time to continue doing the things he is doing for us all.

IDAHO not Fooling around with Real ID

2008-04-01T11:27:00.011-05:00

by Steve Meyer

(April 1, 2008) There were no fools standing in the chambers Monday March 31, 2008 as the Idaho Senate passed HB606 into law by an overwhelming 100% for and zero against vote. Nor were there any present on March 13th when the House passed it with an equally resounding 100% for and zero against.

HB606 was teetering upon defeat in the Senate as recent as last Friday. According to our contact in Idaho "on Friday there were not enough yes votes to stop the Real ID". This individual had been working with our information packet and the Idaho legislature. Providing our packet of 6 PDF files (about 1 meg worth of data) and a link to stoprealidcoalition.blogspot.com to every Senator and Representative in Idaho. Our contact goes on to say "I'm sure the link was used".

In addition to our information packet, the March 24th article 'Breaking News'; now presented as a PDF titled 'Dangerous Monopoly Formed' was included.

From Friday to Monday the winds changed from a sure failure to a 100% for zero against victory! Our Idaho contact went on to say "It seems your documents can even cure the common cold."

I contacted Mark Lerner, the biometrics and Real ID expert, to gather his comments. "It goes to show, as I always tell people, that when we sit down and provide the facts that we have, that many are outraged."

Congratulations Idaho!

We know that the Senate amended the original HB606 and that the bill now returns to the House to deal with the amendments. Yet, this bill now puts Idaho very close to stopping the Real ID insanity with enacted law.

Certainly the Stop Real ID Coalition supports a tamper proof drivers license. What we don't support is the Real ID due to the facts found in our information packet. We're confident that the House members, and Governor, will review our facts and respond appropriately.

If you need the free information packet, then please request it at stoprealid@aol.com so that you can educate yourself and others. Get the packet, read it, then pass it on to everyone you know.

If you can introduce us to Senators and Representatives in your State, please do, our on-site presence to coach is worthy of their consideration.

Stop Real ID Coalition Coaches Continue to Work

2008-02-29T18:52:00.005-06:00

by Steve Meyer

STOP REAL ID COALITION (Feb 29, 2008) Mark Lerner, and the Stop Real ID Coalition, have been extremely successful in uniting U.S. and state legislators, religious leaders, legislative committees, and major national organizations. This united campaign is working to stop the Real ID Act of 2005 and it’s troubling international scope of insecurity, privacy invasion, and loss of freedom that it establishes.

More than a dozen states have legislation passed that urges the U.S. Congress to Repeal the Act altogether!

Over half of the states have legislation pending that urges the U.S. Congress to Repeal the Act!

Make no mistake about it. According to the legislation their states have passed or plan to pass, the states haven’t rolled over and accepted that the Real ID is for real. No way.

In fact, we have invitations from, are working with, or are scheduling to work with 20 states to pass legislation in their state to end this insane Real ID Act of 2005. And we continue to work with U.S. Legislators on the national front, religious leaders and their congregations, ACLJ, ACLU, state legislators, and governors.

When over half the states see the problem with the Real ID, then one has to peek under the hood to learn what they’ve seen; it’s just sensible to educate oneself. Our coalition has peeked, and we coach and inform legislators and others on what we’ve found and how to deal with it in their state; and even nationally.

We don’t blow smoke, pass out ludicrous looking literature, stand in the outer corridors while the action is inside, claim to do more than we have, burn bridges, or harass others into public embarrassment.

We do actually show up, build cohesive teams and alliances, create understanding, coach and build the knowledge base, describe the issues in layman or professional terms, build our case based purely on fact, and provide comprehensive model legislation.

We desperately need your financial help right now! This very minute! Please join us and contribute.

The Endangered Real ID Act of 2005

2008-02-26T20:00:00.015-06:00

by Steve Meyer

STOP REAL ID COALITION (Feb 26, 2008) Power, greed, and politics, an ugly mix that has produced fascism time and time again across the centuries.

Americans are the first people to have their inherent rights recognized not as a privilege but instead as their birthright, unrelated to the government they elect.

Yet today those rights have been converted to privileges. The mere utterance of opposition to the whims and whimpers of those in self supposed authority is punished, viewed as a form of terrorism. The mistreatment of activists who challenge legislation is therefore something we must challenge immediately and with the full force of our movement.

Mark Lerner is an activist for freedom, one of a very few who are committed to ensuring that Americans retain ownership of their own information and that their privacy and real security is respected.

He and those like him, those who seek to oppose tyrannical laws by confronting the issues in a proper forum before legislature, should be embraced. Yet Mark has suffered incarceration, harassment and endangerment. He dared to confront those who are determined to inflict on us the Real ID. Worse from their viewpoint, he has been successful.

Two weeks ago Mark Lerner was going about the work of stopping the Real ID. He is one of the best informed and most experienced activists on the issue of the Real ID. It was his testimony to Congress that informed legislators of the problematic accuracy of the biometrics being used with the Real ID; it was Mark who pointed out the conflict of allowing those who will profit and have access to be the same corporations whose record of reliability in respecting our privacy is so tainted. He learned these things while acting to make the Real ID happen. He changed his mind and sides because for Mark the truth, and freedom, matter.

He is determined to halt the Real ID Act of 2005. It can be done; it must be done. We’ve been doing it.

The time is now. Let’s send a clear message to those advocates of the Real ID. Mark is now completing his work in Oklahoma. Organizing in other states, appointments with legislators, briefings, and media events. Help Mark, and those working with him, stop the Real ID. Hold on to your right to own and control your most private information. Know that you can change your bank account, you can change your Social Security Number, but you can never change your biometrics. Once your biometrics are compromised, they are compromised forever.

Send a clear message today! A contribution of one hundred dollars by each of us would show that the people support the Stop Real ID Coalition. It will send a powerful message to the Real ID advocates. And it will reassure the Governors and legislators who have stood with us for the repeal of the Real ID Act. This is the work that needs doing and the message that must be heard. Help us stop the Real ID in your state now before it is too late.

Return often, as we will be updating this site with late breaking news as it develops. And believe me, we will be in the news in the weeks to come. Some exciting things are beginning to happen. Be a part of the action! Join us.

Stop Real ID Coalition

2008-02-21T17:15:00.002-06:00

by Steve Meyer

(Feb 21, 2008) Mark Lerner, and another person, approached the topics involved in Real ID about three years ago. Mark examined the issues from a technology perspective while the other person came at it from a privacy viewpoint. During their journeys, they met, they discussed, and a lasting bond for the mission to Stop Real ID was born. Working together for over a year, these Patriots consolidated their efforts and like a pandemic have exploded onto the scene providing documented proof of collusion, fraud, and wrong-doings related to the Real ID Act of 2005. They have uncovered evidence against those who would strip the freedom, privacy, and security away from every U.S. Citizen under the disguise of one who was increasing their security. Mark has become the public face of the movement while the other founder retains the privacy he so treasures. Today, the team's activities have received warm welcome acknowledgments from so many, that a coalition has developed; the Stop Real ID Coalition.

The Stop Real ID Coalition is a proponent for ending the Real ID Act of 2005, the use of biometrics therein, and all of its offspring legislation. They have garnered the bi-partisan support of national and state leaders, Christian Ministries, Political Pacts, and Talk Show Hosts nationwide. Truly a sweeping partnership which crosses all political boundaries. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents have all rallied behind the effort.

Model Legislation against the Real ID, and its privacy/security weakening directives, has been drafted for and is being enacted by several state legislatures. This may be the strongest legislation to date when it comes to realistic and permanent defeat of the negative impacts of the Real ID. It is all encompassing to the point of receiving high praise from the legislators who are using it. This model legislation has passed the muster in real life use. The Stop Real ID Coalition will make it available upon request.

Massive evidence of wrong doing within the biometrics industry has been presented to Federal and State Legislators, several committees in Washington D.C., and to select others. The wheels of motion are churning at the highest levels of governance as eyes are opening to the real implications of weakening security and destroying privacy as enacted by the Real ID Act of 2005.

Real ID may well have been good intentioned. And may have seemed a logical solution on the surface. But as one digs in past the surface and unveils the reality beneath, one is quick to notice the failure and injustice that this piece of legislation holds for all Citizens of the United States of America. The freedom, privacy, and security of each of us is forever demolished by the concepts held in this single piece of legislation; the Real ID Act of 2005.

Join us. Help us put an end to the most repressive piece of legislation in U.S. History.

The Clock is Ticking on Real ID

2008-02-20T22:08:00.000-06:00

May 11, 2008 state compliance begins; biometric facial photos included.

It sounds like a bad science fiction – horror story. But this is real.

On May 11, 2008 the Real ID initiative will hasten the collection and retention of your facial biometrics under the AAMVA and ICAO international biometric standards.

Those who wait until its too late to resist, will be unable to do many of the things that today we take for granted.

Join the Stop Real ID Coalition today.

What is The Stop Real ID Coalition:

We have massive evidence of wrongdoing, collusion, and fraud.

We will continue to provide model legislation used by state governments to halt the Real ID in your state.

We will work in your state to ensure your legislators vote against the Real ID.

We have given the testimony that has caused those with the power to pause. We will finish that work in Washington D.C. to ensure that the Real ID is repealed.

We will awaken the people to this attack on their freedoms.

We will work to stop the massive collection, retention, and distribution of your personal biometrics.

You know we can do it because of what we have already accomplished when everyone said it was impossible.

WE HAVE working relationships with legislators, attorneys, associations, organizations, and ministries nationwide. We continue to work closely with these folks and have received healthy strong support. This is NOT a start-up. Three years in the making, we've come a long way and garnered respectable ground while working behind the scenes and under the radar.

TODAY we are stepping up the pace, announcing ourselves publicly and moving into high gear to meet and assist legislators from 20 states who've already asked us to help. We are already known to the legislators and our invite list grows each week!

What we lack is the money to fund the work. We already have the engagements!

THIS IS THE TIME to make an impact and a difference. We need your help. Will you help us?

Donate. Join, Volunteer. Get Active. Your life, as you know it today, depends on what you do today.

Biometric Fact Sheet

2008-01-21T16:16:00.000-06:00

REAL ID-BIOMETRIC FACT SHEET

The Final Chapter in a Systematic Plan for Global Biometric ID

Submitted by STOP REAL ID – an association of concerned citizens

The REAL ID ACT of 2005 is not a national ID card but an INTERnational BIOMETRIC ID card

The world is being enrolled in an international biometric ID system through driver’s license/ID cards (DL/ID cards), passports and other ID documents. The federal government attempted to impose biometrics on state ID in 1986[i]. International biometric plans were laid in 1995[ii]. Both predate 9/11. The biometrics required by REAL ID, other security laws, initiatives, treaties and agreements, are not needed tools against terrorism, but the fulfillment of a global biometric ID system.

On March 1^st, 2007 REAL ID’s “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” (NPRM) was issued, revealing REAL ID’s global biometric connection[iii]. The three main entities driving this system are:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA)
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

AAMVA is an international association of motor vehicle and law enforcement officials[iv]. AAMVA is responsible for international biometric DL/ID card standards and a (DMV-DPS) data linking system, the “Driver License Agreement” (DLA)[v]. The most recent AAMVA DL/ID standard is the 2005 “Personal Identification – AAMVA International Specification- DL/ID Card Design[vi]." The 2005 standard, DLA and various other document standards are requirements, cited in REAL ID[vii] and NPRM[viii]. AAMVA exercises great influence over international, federal and state level DL/ID card laws, evident in REAL ID (AAMVA is mentioned 30 times in NPRM).

ICAO monitors travelers, designed biometric “e-passports[ix]" required for “Visa Waiver Nations[x]" and is affiliated with the UN[xi]. Global enrollment into the e-passport system is 50 million annually[xii]. REAL ID photos comply with ICAO “biometric data interchange formats” [xiii] standards, making state photos compatible with global biometric facial recognition standards.

Together, DHS, AAMVA and ICAO are fulfilling the three elements of a global biometric system.

Common “interoperable” document and biometric standards set by ICAO-AAMVA
Biometric enrollment (passports, DL/ID cards, military ID, government employee ID, birth records, etc.)

3. International database linking containing personal-biometric information (DHS-AAMA-ICAO)

REAL ID and NPRM require states to:

1. Adopt biometric photo standards set by ICAO 9303[xiv], a minimum resolution of 90 pixels between eye centers

2. To verify identification “breeder” documents and supporting documents through an online system (proposed systems include DHS sponsored “federated querying”[xv] and AAMVAnet[xvi])

3. Adopt documentation standards set by AAMVA

4. Link state databases and participate in AAMVA’s DLA

After issuing the NPRM, DHS released “20 Questions and Answers”[xvii] about REAL ID. In it, DHS denied:

· Creating a national ID card

· Creating a national database on applicants

· Requiring biometrics or storing biometrics

REAL ID is an INTERnational ID. DHS can “legally” access database information through the outdated “Drivers Privacy Protection Act” (DPPA) and the DHS proposed “federated querying system.” REAL ID DOES require photos compatible with facial recognition biometrics and any government agency accessing the linked database system can use any state photo with facial recognition software, making it a biometric.

REAL ID standards make state databases “interoperable” and database linking will result in states losing control of their ID system. The DL/ID card controls our ability to buy, sell and move. While under state control, this power remains under the control of the people who have access to the lawmakers administering its use. REAL ID places that control under federal and international entities through laws, initiatives and treaties, some of which are listed below.

FACIAL RECOGNITION – The Global Biometric of Choice

Facial recognition creates a digital, machine readable, map of one’s face. 3-D facial recognition potentially identifies individuals in “real world” settings, addressing issues of lighting and movement, providing the tool for a surveillance society like Great Britain with an estimated 500,000 surveillance cameras in London and 7 million nationally.[xviii]

On June 28, 2002, the ICAO, and its stakeholders, unanimously endorsed the “Berlin Resolution” for “the use of facial recognition as the globally interoperable biometric for machine assisted identity confirmation with MRTD’s (machine readable travel documents)”[xix] Why Facial Recognition? Facial recognition can use existing digital photo databases (enrollment) and is suitable for public surveillance.

FACIAL RECOGNITION TESTS –

National security funds are wasted on biometrics. Facial recognition failures are highly documented[xx] even in AAMVA’s 2003 “International Biometric Group” (IBG) report[xxi]. The report “anticipates” (by two years), the linked database requirements of REAL ID (300 million drivers), demonstrating AAMVA’s influence on federal legislation.

The IBG report reveals:

“Synopsis of facial image recognition performance is POOR.”
Test results on a “100-person database” showed “only “53% of multiple enrollees were identified correctly” and “The comparatively small size of this database, and the error rates encountered, call into question the scalability of facial recognition for much larger systems”(pg 10).
“…facial recognition will not be capable of successfully performing 1:300m (million) identification”(pg 17).
IBG evaluated a Colorado DMV case study using facial recognition to look for duplicate DL/ID cardholders. On 3000 applicants/day, the facial recognition program produced 100-125 facial image matches/day. “False Matches” were 99% of those, making only 1% valid (26 per month (pages 93-94).
Facial recognition has great difficulty with facial hair and glasses (pages 30-32, 117).
“Vendor’s performance projections” - “Estimated 69% correct ID rate on 300m (million) database” (pg 16). Vendor claims for a 1:300 million environment, exceed the small 100-person database test (53%)!

The DHS sponsored, Facial Recognition Vendor Test 2006 (FRVT 2006)[xxii] also reflected inflated vendor estimates, prompting biometrics expert, Ben Bavarian to state that the tests are “only valid for the defined circumstances of the NIST ITL labs” and these tests are “turned into marketing tools for vendors to push the products without doing the right things for the technology.”

DHS WANTS MORE HIGH-TECH TOOLS–Human Dignity, Civil Rights, Testing & Function are Secondary

Like facial recognition, DHS shares equal disregard for other testing procedures. On September 18, 2007, the Washington Post reported,[xxiii] that weeks before key government tests of new radiation detection equipment, DHS officials “helped” contractors through repeated dry runs that enabled them to perform better during the examinations. Congress expected to use the long-awaited tests to make a $1.2 billion decision. Congress was previously concerned that DHS misled them about the device’s effectiveness, known as Advanced Spectroscopic Portals, or ASPs.

Instead of building fences to protect our borders, DHS spent millions on Boeing’s “virtual fence” that doesn’t work.[xxiv] DHS is also testing the “virtual strip search,” machine, AKA-backscatter device, recently deployed in Phoenix.[xxv] Another new item being tested is “Project Hostile Intent”[xxvi] that will “identify” terrorists’ “intent” by judging behavior and facial expressions. An extensive list of DHS-TSA failures is too lengthy for this document.

POWER, CONTROL AND DECEIT

Consider the numerous technology failures, the deceit of government agencies and the constitutional risks. How can we trust biometrics, biometric vendors, international organizations and government agencies employing biometrics? REAL ID grants DHS almost unlimited powers. DHS can also redefine their powers as they see fit. NPRM states that the “official purpose” of REAL ID: ``includes but is not limited to accessing Federal facilities, boarding Federally-regulated commercial aircraft, entering nuclear power plants, and any other purposes that the Secretary shall determine.'' The section goes on to say, “…under the discretionary authority granted to the Secretary of Homeland Security under the Act, may expand this definition in the future.”

REAL ID’s official purposes have already changed to discourage further opposition i.e. access to national parks. Potentially, REAL ID requirements could be imposed on banking, Medicare or cashing Social Security checks, school ID, etc. REAL ID is a symptom of a society that has lost control of its government, where international organizations have more influence over state and federal law than the people, or their elected representatives.

DL/ID Card Photo = Biometrics and deceitful enrollment. Why use facial recognition? Enrollment. The 2003 IBG report states, “Facial recognition technology can acquire faces from almost any static camera or video,” and “Facial recognition databases…are capable of creating databases from facial images not specifically collected for biometric usage.” Linked databases with photos = facial recognition database.

RUSHING TO FAILURE – Increasing Risk and Wasting Resources

Robert Mocny (DHS US-Visit) stated that “information sharing is appropriate around the world, and DHS plans to create a “Global Security Envelope of internationally shared biometric data that would permanently link individuals with biometric ID, personal information held by governments and corporations.”[xxvii] DHS is committed to global data sharing and is “rushing” to fulfill a global biometric dream, before November 2008. Risking it all, DHS ignores the facts about REAL ID.

· Global ID and database linking threaten religious rights, privacy, states’ rights, and our sovereignty.

· Database linking-sharing will certainly result in an ID theft pandemic. The consolidation of power in one document increases the chances of ID fraud just as data sharing increases the risk of ID theft.

· Facial recognition will NOT work effectively on terrorists unless they submit to enrollment and shave.

· Other countries will issue biometric ID based on their own “breeder” documents (ex. birth certificate). Based on those “breeder” documents, e-passports will be accepted at face value. Persons issuing, those documents, must be experts in identifying fraudulent “breeder” documents or the biometric ID permanently legitimizes the fraud.

· This system places our national security on the shoulders of government employees in Peru, Columbia, Haiti, Bolivia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China, etc.

· Every government must have secure “records” buildings, information technology systems and totally trustworthy employees protecting highly personal information collected globally (shared databases). DHS-TSA lost a hard drive with thousands and thousands of employee records. How will they secure ID systems of other nations?

· DHS has difficulties with information sharing between all levels of law enforcement. How can we rely on other nations to share accurate and highly personal information on all their citizens?

REAL ID, Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), e-passport, Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), backscatter, virtual fence, “Project Hostile Intent” etc. are indicators of the current DHS mindset that can’t keep its hands out of the technological cookie jar. While technical failures mount, our nation becomes less secure. DHS is wasting billions of dollars on “high-tech” failures instead of investing in fences and people desperately needed on our borders and in our ports. This “DHS mindset” has not escaped the notice of the Government Accounting Office (GAO), that recently cited many problems with DHS, giving it a several failing grades.

REAL ID and other biometric laws must be repealed. States must take back power from international organizations, wipe databases of biometrics and biometric compatible information, and reduce the quality of photos, making them useless for biometrics (max. 25 pixels between eye centers) so that state databases are protected from future takeovers.

092407 REAL ID –BIOMETRIC FACT SHEET.doc

REFERENCE PAGE

[i] Source AAMVA – “Current and Ongoing Efforts – http://www.aamva.org/KnowledgeCenter/Standards/currentandongoingefforts-biometrics.htm

[ii] Source ICAO – Tag/Mrtd17_WP016.pdf (Jan. 2007) “Background 2.1”

[iii] Source DHS – “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” (Mar. 2007) – section 3 “Digital Photograph” (March 2007) footnote (17) states ”The relevant ICAO standard is ICAO 9303 Part 1 Vol 2, specifically ISO/IEC 19794-5 - Information technology - Biometric data interchange formats - Part 5: Face image data, which is incorporated into ICAO 9303” nprm_readid.pdf

[iv] Source AAMVA web site – www.aamva.org and listed on other source documents (see note i – Current and Ongoing Efforts – http://www.aamva.org/KnowledgeCenter/Standards/currentandongoingefforts-biometrics.htm)

[v] Source AAMVA - http://www.aamva.org/KnowledgeCenter/Driver/Compacts/History+of+the+DLA.htm

[vi] Source AAMVA – std2005DL-IDCardSpecV2FINAL.pdf

[vii] Source H.R.418 REAL ID ACT of 2005 – Sec. 203 “Linking of Databases” – re: “Driver License Agreement” //NOTE: HR418 from House was included in HR1268 in Senate, passed and signed into law

[viii] Source DHS – “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” (Mar. 1^st 2007), “H. Minimum Driver’s license or identification card Data Element Requirements - Sec. 5 Signature, Sec. 8. Machine Readable Technology (MRT) barcode standard, data elements, Sec. 9 Encryption (barcode) J. Source Document Retention (and related sections detailing these requirements) - nprm_readid.pdf

[ix] ICAO announces (July 11^th 2005) the Machine Readable Passport (MRP) standard specified by ICAO is the international standard -- pio200507_e.pdf

[x] “Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002” “Sec. 303 Machine Readable Tamper Resistant Entry and Exit” requires biometric Machine Readable Passports, complying to ICAO standards, for “visa waiver nations.”

[xi] Source ICAO – Tag/Mrtd17_WP016.pdf (Jan. 2007) 3.1 Creation of ICAO

[xii] Source ICAO – Tag/Mrtd17_WP20.pdf (March 12^th, 2007) “2. ONGOING WORK OF THE NTWG SINCE TAG/16” sec. 2.2

[xiii] Source DHS – (See ref. iii ) - The ISO/IEC 19794-5 standard defines how photos, compatible with facial recognition biometrics, are to be collected when used in ICAO’s 9303 Machine Readable Travel Documents (MRTD).

[xiv] ICAO 9303 - ISO/IEC 19794-5 is available from ISO (see 040607 April_6_FP_Published_ISO_Standards.pdf), however, “Annex D-Face Image Data Interchange.pdf” addresses similar content and can be downloaded.

[xv] Source DHS – “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” (Mar. 1^st 2007), “Sec. 6. a, ii. Federated Querying Service - nprm_readid.pdf

[xvi] Source DHS - Privacy Impact Assessment for the REAL ID ACT of 2005- Sec. 3 “The State to State Data Exchange” (footnote 24) refers to AAMVAnet as one part of a current data exchange program that could be used to implement the requirements of REAL ID’s database linking requirements – privacy_pia_realid.pdf

[xvii] Source DHS – http://www.dhs.gov/xprevprot/laws/gc_1172767635686.shtm

[xviii] Source Wall Street Journal Article July 8^th, 2005 “Surveillance Cameras Monitor Much of Daily Life in London May Help to Identify Bombers” - http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB112077340647880052-cKyZgAb0T3asU4UDFVNPWrOAqCY_20060708.html

[xix] Source ICAO – TagMrtd17_WP016.pdf – 5.3 SELECTION OF BIOMETRICS MODALITIES FOR E-PASSPORTS

[xx] Source Washington Technology – Great Expectations – Biometrics –

http://www.washingtontechnology.com/print/18_13/21791-2.html

[xxi] Source AAMVA IBG Report - UID9BiometricReport_Phase1_1to300m.pdf

[xxii] Source FRVT2006andICE2006LargeScaleReport (4).pdf http://frvt.org/FRVT2006/default.aspx

[xxiii] Source Washington Post (Sept. 18^th 2007) “DHS ‘Dry Run’ Support Cited” http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091701718.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[xxiv] Source AP “Glitch Renders ‘Virtual Fence’ Unusable (Sept. 20^th 2007) – http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/19/AR2007091902664.html

[xxv] Source USA Today - Phoenix test site for TSA X-ray -http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20061201/1a_lede01.art.htm

[xxvi] Source DHS- Deception Detection: Identifying hostile intent – http://www.homelandsecurity.org/snapshots/newsletter/2007-05.htm#deception

[xxvii] Source GCN –DHS pushes global data sharing – http://www.gcn.com/print/26_03/43061-1.html

A brief list of laws, initiatives and treaties being used to impose a global biometric ID system

· The “Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986” attempted to impose biometrics on state ID for identifying commercial driver’s license holders

· 1995 ICAO began work on biometric Machine Readable Travel Documents (MRTD’s) resulting in ICAO 9303 TAG-MRTD/17-WP/16.pdf (1-6-07)

· The “Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996” set federal standards for all driver’s license/ID cards (DL/ID cards) and placed state DL/ID card design under the influence of AAMVA

· “Enhanced Security and Visa Reform Act of 2002” – biometrics collected on visa holders - Visa Waiver nations issue biometric passports designed by ICAO

· REAL ID ACT of 2005 and NPRM require states to:

1. Collect, store and share highly personal information verified through online systems (ex. DHS “federated querying” system or AAMVAnet)

2. Adopt global biometric DL/ID card standards set by AAMVA and ICAO “9303” photo standards complying with “biometric data interchange formats” making all photos compatible with facial recognition software

3. Link state DL/ID databases, creating common database systems (DLA model) – Once databases link, the photos can be accessed by government agencies outside the state. The images can then be used with common facial recognition systems. State database linking and information sharing permanently enrolls U.S. citizens in a global biometric system. Data cannot be retrieved once distributed. The shared data can then be shared globally as part of an international database linking system.

· Initiatives – WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) requires a passport for travel between Canada, United States and Mexico as of 2007– WHTI meant new applicants issued new biometric e-passports (ICAO design). DHS began pilot program with Washington, Arizona and New York to issue biometric DL/ID card/passport hybrid acceptable as passport. TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) - Requires biometric ID cards for thousands of government employees

· July 2007, the EU and US begin sharing new database information on travelers, including “racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership" and “data about an individual's health, traveling partners and sexual orientation” according to a July 27^th, 2007 Washington Post article. Such data collection and sharing depends on other federal laws, like the recently revised FISA, to permit surveillance and data mining of information on U.S. citizens. Robert Mocny (DHS-US Visit) stated that global data sharing would begin with Europe, Asia (GCN February 5^th, 2007).