REAL ID, federalizes drivers licenses for creating a database of photos for facial recognition and metadata.
Enhanced Passport--the requirements for getting the photo include not wearing glasses and not smiling, ostensibly so that their algorithm works better.
Facial scanning at airports, so they can build up as big a database as possible.
I'm surprised they didn't require full fingerprints for REAL ID.
How much further do we go before the tyranny becomes in your face enough?
Permanent residents (and non residents) already get their prints scanned at every entry. I'm a naturalized citizen now but was always mildly bothered by being singled out (my wife and kids are US citizens by birth) for that level of screening.
Technically "right thumb, or left thumb if you have no right thumb, or another finger if you have no thumbs".
Which I remember only because I was surprised/amused to see this in the driver's handbook (the pamphlet they give you if you are applying for a license). That handbook contains a tiny slice of the vehicle code, presumably the most important subset, which is why this made me laugh.
I just looked at the current one online and it no longer includes this info.
Is this true for all drivers? When I moved to California and got my driver's license I don't remember having my thumb print taken. I've even considered it a badge of honor that I've never given my fingerprints to the man.
> Enhanced Passport--the requirements for getting the photo include not wearing glasses and not smiling, ostensibly so that their algorithm works better.
When I renewed my driver's license a number of years ago, they required a new photo to be taken without my glasses or a smile, so that's not only a passport requirement.
In Georgia they’ve been requiring a finger print in some cases for some time. Not all fingers but I remember my index and/or thumb being scanned. I let my license expire and had to go through the joys of trying to prove my address and other stuff like the finger scan.
It's been incredibly in your face if you aren't a privileged white person since basically the dawn of the country, with a small period of kind-of-not-really-thoufh improvement around WWII. Workers rights have always been shat on, being poor sucks and keeps getting worse with every year that m4a isn't a thing, and being a visible minority obviously also sucks what with the whole police murdering you thing or ICE gestapo knocking on your door etc.
Frankly I hope they ramp it up, because maybe it'll at least open up peoples eyes to all the other insane sorts of injustices that go on.
That seems like hyperbole to me. Remember, we live in a republican democracy. Yes, it works slowly (by design). But, it works. At least we don’t have a totalitarian state to deal with.
I used to be skeptical of this stuff, too. Then, we had 18 years of no major terrorist attacks.
I think OP's point is that many of the tools necessary for a totalitarian state are in place. The Stasi and NKVD would have loved tools like this. America once aspired to something other than "papers please".
Luckily, everyone wants their personal freedoms and few people want to take others’ freedoms away [1]. So, it comes down to our personal duty (or will) to oversee our government. Unfortunately, that’s hard to do electronically.
I hope my down-voters are very active in organizations that scrutinize our government. Otherwise, I see some hypocrisy.
[1] Sure, there are plenty of bad actors online. But, in a country of several hundred million, they’re still a fringe minority. (And, how many are state actors attempting to sow discord?)
I downvoted your initial post. I find it disingenous at best, and dangerous at worst, to suggest that increases in monitoring and govt. power are to thank for any trends in terrorist activity. (Not to mention factually incorrect, boston bomber was in 2015, just to name one)
It also ignores prior abuses of govt power entirely aside from terrorist threats, that might be fair reason alone to distrust the current mechanisms being applied.
I also donate regularly to the ACLU and EFF, and do what I can to impact local politics, although these issues don't come up as much there, so no need to expect hypocrisy just because people disagree with you. (And frankly, even if they aren't active in these organizations, I support anyone who desires scrutanization, even if only in spreading that zeitgeist online. A few people being the "Watchmen" is no substitute for a cultural awareness that govts. _require_ checks, balances, and a tight reign by the people.)
I completely agree. And, I have sincere respect for your efforts. I hope your actions motivate more to do the same.
I’m not blind to the issues. I am just happy that I was born into a country like the USA. I could have had much, much worse luck. And, even with all the blemishes and the frustration of slow processes, I stay motivated to keep this government going as it was designed. And, in my opinion, it’s actually a better country than a few hundred years ago. That gives me hope.
>and few people want to take other peoples’ freedoms away
Really? Even on HN there's certain freedoms that the majority wants curtailed. Reddit is a complete cesspool of pro-totalitarianism. Twitter is, well, Twitter.
> America once aspired to something other than "papers please".
If you're reading this, I highly recommend the game Papers Please[0]. It's not... fun per se, but it is engaging and very interesting. Definitely worth a try.
You can't publish evidence of state war crimes without the CIA doing a character assassination job on you (pending a real assassination).
You can't travel anonymously.
You can't publish anonymously.
You can't make bank transfers out of the country for arbitrary purposes.
You can't deposit or withdraw cash above a trivial amount without significant scrutiny which is reported to the government. Financial companies failing to report can be criminally liable; it is illegal for them to protect your privacy.
It's illegal to not let the state know where you habitually sleep (state ID/driver's license requirements).
You can't drive from place to place without being subject to arbitrary "I smelled marijuana" search.
Every single phone call, SMS, and email is logged by the government.
Every single train and airplane ride is logged by the government in realtime, and government ID is required to board planes (and some trains).
Every single payment card swipe is logged by the government in realtime, and has been since 2008.
The government can, at any time, with zero burden of proof, freeze any/all of your payment cards and deposit accounts.
The government can, at any time, with zero burden of proof, freeze your ability to send/receive electronic payments.
You can't make private transactions (e.g. at a casino) over a trivial amount in cash without having to submit identity documents.
Our government runs a global network of extrajudicial torture prisons.
Our government regularly uses illegal and inhumane conditions against children to dissuade people from seeking human rights (specifically to asylum).
Our government runs an extrajudicial network of assassination robots that target citizens and foreigners alike, with basically zero oversight about who they kill or why.
Our government has been known to retaliate with bogus charges against anyone who stands publicly against their illegal activities, e.g. Joseph Nacchio.
I'm really confused as to what would have to happen for you to think that we do live in a totalitarian state.
Does an impenetrable and indiscernible duopoly count? I'm pretty sure the US only has two flavors of one "continuous war" party that serves the military/corporate interests that conduct 24/7 electronic surveillance of everyone in power.
Yeah, that claim is wrong on a couple of levels. The requirement in at least three states for ID or a DL is that you provide an address you can receive mail at. It doesn't have to be where you live.
Also, even if you did have to provide your residence for your ID/DL, there's no law that says you have to get an ID/DL in the first place. Not having one will make life hard, but it isn't illegal.
REAL ID, federalizes drivers licenses for creating a database of photos for facial recognition and metadata.
Enhanced Passport--the requirements for getting the photo include not wearing glasses and not smiling, ostensibly so that their algorithm works better.
Facial scanning at airports, so they can build up as big a database as possible.
I'm surprised they didn't require full fingerprints for REAL ID.
How much further do we go before the tyranny becomes in your face enough?