Is it or is it not such a great leap into an age much represented in Hollywood when we will no longer have to bother with cash, checkbooks or passports? Instead all we need to use to buy or sell is our fingerprint.
You would expect to read about this in Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" or George Orwell's "1984," but it's actually happening ... and it's only the beginning. The "Just Touch and Go" article glorified this technology in the Wednesday, Jan. 4, business section of The Forum. The story was about the new finger scanning machines being implemented at Hornbacher's, Cash Wise and other retailers in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
We are now seeing scanning technology at not just retailers, but many workplaces require finger scanning to clock in at work, and a friend of mine finger scans to register for her orthodontist's appointment in Moorhead. At the moment, biometrics is seen as a great convenience for customers who choose to use it. If I was confident that it would stay that way I wouldn't be writing. I'm writing about what is to eventually become of biometrics if we let it spiral out of control. With children finger scanning to get school lunches in some school districts and adults finger scanning to buy groceries, we are being trained to use our biometric signatures as payment and identification.
When you scan your finger or any other part of your body, it becomes digital information. Digital information can be easily copied, easily transferred and easily altered. I am worried that people will think that finger scanning is more secure than money. I admit it has it ups and downs, but what happens if you lose your credit card? Cancel it? Replace it? No problem. What happens if your biometric data gets stolen? Cancel it? Replace it? Once your biometric data is compromised, it's compromised for life.
Eventually biometric technology will be heavily used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other departments of the government to track criminals and terrorists. Section 403 of the USA Patriot Act specifically requires the federal government to "develop" and certify a technology standard that can be used to verify the identity of its citizens. Your biometric data will be referenced and cross- referenced as the government will see fit to track potential terrorists. You might find Homeland Security at your door one day even if you've done nothing wrong.
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When the machine fails, you can't argue with it because that's what it is - a machine. Eventually biometrics will discard the human factor and will let scanners and computers take over the identification process. It will ultimately take over the task of granting or denying certain rights. Once again, you can't argue with a machine.
It was recently brought to my attention of what the biblical aspect of biometrics would lead to. This was prophesied by John in the last book of the Bible:
"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
"And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
- Revelation 13:16-17
President Bush said a few years ago that it was one of his goals that America becomes cashless by the year 2007. It may not happen that soon, but the new "beast" system is definitely a leap in that direction.
Cash is the only form of payment that keeps people and transactions anonymous. Under the new biometrics and microchip technology system out there, cash will be a thing of the past. All transactions will be traceable, you will be identified, and every move you make will be recorded - now that's what I call freedom.
Swenson lives in Moorhead. E-mail cSwenson@upstreambiz.com
