Public Policy

Big Brother: FBI to build computer database of people’s physical characteristics

According to CNN, the FBI “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.” Maybe this will increase security, but will the government take advantage of this knowledge?

“People who don’t think mistakes are going to be made I don’t think fly enough,” said [ACLU Technology and Liberty Project director Barry] 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