Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 00:04:53 -0700 (PDT) From: jd@scn.org (SCN User) To: local-computer-activists@scn.org Subject: National ID Alert Reply-To: jd@scn.org Sender: owner-local-computer-activists@scn.org It's summertime....and the Department of Transportation hopes you won't notice they're creating a national ID card. Public comments are due in Washington, D.C. by Monday, August 3rd. The agency has made no provisions for FAX or e-mail. See the EPIC web site for agency address, docket number, text of draft regulations, plus general information to inspire you as you write. Janeane Dubuar ---------- Forwarded message ---------- @@@@ @@@@ @@@ @@@@ @ @ @@@@ @@@@ @@@@@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@@@ @@@ @ @ @@@@@ @ @@@ @@@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@@@ @ @@@ @@@@ @ @ @@@@ @@@@ @ @ @ ============================================================== Volume 5.10 July 20, 1998 -------------------------------------------------------------- Published by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) Washington, D.C. http://www.epic.org ======================================================================= Proposed Rules Issued for National Identity Card ======================================================================= The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a notice on June 17 that would effectively turn state drivers' licenses into national identity cards. The proposed rule would require that all states modify their drivers' licenses to create a uniform national drivers' license. It would prohibit government agencies from accepting any identification besides the authorized identity card. The proposed rule would also encourage states to include the persons' Social Security Number either in written form on the face of the license or in electronic form of all drivers' licenses. If a state does not wish to include the SSN on the license, it must minimally require every license applicant to provide the number. State agencies would be required to send every such SSN to the Social Security Administration for review. The DOT is basing its rule on provisions in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. Reps. Ron Paul (R-TX) and Bob Barr (R-GA) have introduced H. R. 4217, the Freedom and Privacy Restoration Act of 1998, which would repeal the immigration act's provisions on identification. It would also prohibit federal agencies from "accept[ing] for any identification-related purpose an identification document, if any other Federal agency accepts such document for any such purpose." More information on the proposed rule is available at: http://www.epic.org/privacy/id-cards/ ======================================================================= HHS Proposes New Health Care Identifier ======================================================================= The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a white paper on July 2 to discuss the development of a single national identification number for every person in the United States for health care purposes. The identifier is designed to facilitate the sharing of medical information. Under the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (commonly known as the Kennedy-Kassebaum Act), the Secretary of HHS is required to adopt standards for an identification number for all patients to be used for every health care encounter. An advisory committee to the Department recommended that no identification number be chosen before the enactment of a medical privacy law. The white paper examines possible identity systems, including the Social Security Number (in its existing form or in a modified form), a new number, a system based on a master patient index, cryptography, biometric identification, and other possibilities. The paper proposes that all systems be analyzed against a set of 30 criteria developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials that include the requirement that the number be: public, accessible, linkable, unique, universal, focused and governed. The adoption of the number is considered to be politically sensitive. Any universal number would facilitate the sharing and abuse of medical information. A number based on the SSN could be used to link medical records with other information such as employment and financial information currently indexed with the SSN. A new number that is deployed without any additional privacy protections could be universally adopted by other agencies and private businesses and become a new de facto national identity number. HHS is holding a series of hearings on the choice of identification numbers. The text of the proposal and more information on medical privacy is available at: http://www.epic.org/medical/ ======================================================================= New Congressional Bills and Upcoming Hearings ======================================================================= H.R. 4217. Freedom and Privacy Restoration Act of 1998. Repeals immigration law requirements on national id. Introduced by Paul (R-TX) on July 15, 1998. Referred to the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight. S.2291. Collections of Information Antipiracy Act. Creates new form of intellectual property for databases. Introduced by Grams (R-MN). Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. ======================================================================= Upcoming Conferences and Events ======================================================================= Online Privacy: The Role of Government and Industry in Ensuring Individual Privacy on the Internet. Friday, July 24,1998, 12:00-1:30 p.m. Room 902 Hart Senate Building. Washington, DC. Sponsored by the Congressional Internet Caucus. "Law Enforcement and the March of Technology: The Erosion of Privacy in the Information Age," American Bar Association Annual Meeting. Sunday August 2, 1998, from 2:00 pm to 3:15 pm, Toronto, Canada. Sponsored by the ABA. Contact: Andrew Grosso Telecommunications Policy Research Conference. October 3-5, 1998 Alexandria, Virginia. Contact: http://www.si.umich.edu/~prie/tprc/ The Public Voice in the Development of Internet Policy. Ottawa, Canada. October 7, 1998. Sponsored by GILC and Privacy International. Contact: info@gilc.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * From the Listowner * * * * * * * * * * * * . To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to: majordomo@scn.org In the body of the message, type: unsubscribe local-computer-activists END