And you thought full-body scanners were troubling! The Department of Homeland Security, headed by “Big Sis” Janet Napolitano, will test iris scanners at a Texas border crossing next month. The “official” reason for the move to iris scanners is that they’re quicker and easier to use than collecting fingerprints, not to mention more accurate. The Hollywood movie version? The Man is out to get you.
This iris scans will first be tried out on illegal immigrants, and the department will then determine whether or not the new technology makes sense. All information will be stored in a database.
When did the U.S. become City 17?
The American Civil Liberties Union is none too pleased with these developments, and “”If you can identify any individual at a distance and without their knowledge, you literally allow the physical tracking of a person anywhere there’s a camera and access to the Internet.”
The iris scanner works up to a range of six feet. So, the fear is, walk within six feet of one of these things, and bam! Welcome to the Matrix.
But it’s not only Big Government that wants to increase the use of iris scanners; they can be used for objective good, too. Take fraud prevention. Why not install an iris scanner at the Best Buy checkout counter, then you really know whether or not the person using a credit card is indeed that person?
I don’t know about you, but I take great fun in getting upset at various governmental abstractions. “This doesn’t really affect me, but I’m going to rage anyway!”