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New National ID Card Proposal
CBS Evening News just reported that Clinton has "tenatively signed off"
on a National ID card recommended to him by a commission on immigration
reform. The obstensive reason for the card is for employment and immigration.
Each card will contain a name, photo, mag stripe with info and a "verified
SSN." It was supported by Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming, a long-time
supporter of id cards. Gov. Pete Wilson of California has apparently offered
to make California a test-bed for the proposal. The proposal was opposed by
Xavier Beccera, a Congressman from California. A previous effort to impose a
national id card was rejected by Congress in 1986.
EPIC is working with Privacy International to investigate this report. PI has
led successful campaigns aginst national id cards in Australia, New Zealand,
and the Phillipines.
In Australia, the PI-led campaign led to the dissolution of both houses of
the federal Parliament in 1987 after hundrends of thousands marched in
protest. The Australian campaign brought together groups from all parts of
the political spectrum from the Communist Party to the Libertarian Alliance,
farmers and conservation groups, rock stars, academics, large businesses such
as banks and mining corporations, but the overwhelming support came from the
public who created the biggest civil protest in Australian history.
David Banisar ([email protected])
Electronic Privacy Information Center
666 Penn. Ave, SE #301, Washington, DC 20003
202-544-9240 (v) 202-547-5482 (f)