A fingerprint scan may be the security feature for access to a laptop. It may be the security clearance needed to enter a restricted area. It would seem that the fingerprint is an important personal identifier. Nevertheless, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff does not consider these biometric data to be personal and private:

“OTTAWA - The U.S. homeland security czar says Canadians shouldn’t fear plans to expand international sharing of biometric information such as fingerprints.

“They’re not particularly private,” Chertoff said in an interview Wednesday during a brief visit to Ottawa.”

link: U.S. security chief says fingerprints not private

Indeed Secretary Chertoff is correct. These biometric data cease to be personal and private when they are collected and stored on government data bases. The notion of privacy will become archaic once every known piece of personal information is collected, quantified and stored. The government may want to collect all citizens’ DNA profiles. And, as the science of the double helix develops, the authorities may be able to predict what each citizen’s particular illness predilection is. There will be no privacy whatsoever…

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster:  http://flyinghamster.com/

[tag]michael chertoff, privacy, fingerprint, security, biometric data, data base, dna profile[/tag]