Howard, > > For our databases, we need to make sure our key is not data. At one time > SSNs > were not data, but they have become data. How do we stop ID cards from > becoming data the same as your name is? >
This is my point: the ID card number is just data, the same as my name, my birthday and my mother's maiden name. My Bank in Hong Kong assigns me a customer number, and my wife has a different customer number and this number is used as to link between customer details and account details. > It may be difficult to have invalid ID cards, but it certainly is not > impossible. At least law enforcement will need to have databases which > assume > multiple IDs per person, or multiple people for IDs. I have lived in Hong Kong twice, with an eight year gap in between - but they still gave me the same ID number. > > As far as photo IDs go - a year ago, I got my new driver's license in the > mail. > It has the same old photo from way before I got my beard. It's not very > useful. Every time a get a new visa for China I have to give a new photo. Every time I renew my passport I have to provide a new photo. New Victorian Driver's licence - yep a new photo. The system you choose to live in has a problem in this regard. The system I choose to live in does not. Also realise there is a big difference between a photo ID and a tamper proof photo ID. The HK ID card system is not just a pretty face on some plastic. The Government database also contains my finger prints along with my mugshot, and both my thumbprints are stored on a chip embedded in the card. > > How do you use this ID in your databases? As one form of identification, like my birthday. I still have to sign a cheque or enter a PIN to get my money. Ron ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
