-Caveat Lector- Maybe the Aborigine's belief that a photo is dangerous because it can capture the soul is more true then not. flw >NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY >Should state governments be allowed >to sell your drivers license photo? > > WASHINGTON, DC -- The decision by three states to sell millions >of drivers license photographs to a private company is a "picture >perfect" example of why you can't trust politicians to protect your >privacy, the Libertarian Party said today. > > "Without your permission, politicians in three states have >decided to sell your most personal possession -- your image," said >Steve Dasbach, the party's national director. "If we don't stop them >now, what will they sell next?" > > In what is being described as the latest "Big Brother" privacy >scandal, politicians in three states -- Florida, South Carolina, and >Colorado -- have agreed to sell a combined total of 22.5 million >drivers license photographs to Image Data LLD, a private anti-fraud >company in New Hampshire. > > Image Data LLD said it will use the photos to build a >nationwide photographic database, which retail establishments can use >to confirm the identity of customers who cash checks or use credit >cards. > > But whether such a database will actually prevent fraud, the >Libertarian Party said politicians have no right to sell people's >images, especially without their permission. > > "Your photographic image represents the essence of who you are, >and politicians should not be able to sell it to the highest bidder," >said Dasbach. "It is a classic case of identity theft -- and the >ultimate violation of your personal privacy." > > Americans seem to agree: Already, residents of South Carolina >and Florida are flooding state offices with complaints about the >program. Politicians in South Carolina said they will attempt to >retrieve the photographs, and legislation may be filed in Florida to >curb the practice. > > In addition, at least two states, New Hampshire and Louisiana, >have refused to sell drivers license photos. Other states -- including >Maryland and Virginia -- have laws which restrict access to such >photographs. > > But even if a few states stop the sale of drivers license >photos, that leaves dozens of other states that may decide to sell them >later, Dasbach noted. > > And photographs are just a small part of the flood of personal >data -- ranging from mandated fingerprints on drivers licenses, to >omnipresent Social Security numbers, to roving wiretaps, to the new >"Know Your Customer" bank spying law, to cameras mounted on traffic >lights, to the "Deadbeat Dad" federal employment database -- the >government collects about its citizens, he said. > > "Your privacy is under assault from a hundred laws and >government agencies," Dasbach said. "Big Brother is already watching >you -- only now, he's got a camera in his hands and plans to sell your >photograph." > > The controversy over the sale of the drivers license photos >also illustrates an important difference between the government and >private companies when it comes to privacy, said Dasbach. > > "With the government, you usually can't say no," he noted. "For >example, you have no choice about surrendering your photographic image >if you want a drivers license. And once the government has acquired >that image, you have limited ability to stop politicians and >bureaucrats from doing whatever they wish with it. > > "By contrast, you have a great deal of control over private >companies. A new consumer privacy survey by Louis Harris/Alan Westin >revealed that almost 80% of Americans have refused to give a company or >business information they thought was too personal or unnecessary. And >if a private company invades your privacy, you can refuse to do >business with them -- an option you don't have with the government." > > Whatever the outcome of the drivers license photo debate, >Dasbach said he hopes the controversy will send a message to Democratic >and Republican politicians that Americans simply won't stand for such >violations of their privacy. > > "Americans are tired of being photographed, numbered, filed, >monitored, recorded, and cross-referenced by the government," he said. >"We're tired of having our personal information abused by politicians. >We want our privacy back." DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! 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