E=MC Real ID? A License to Worry, or Just Relatively Safe?

Time is Relative and So is Your ID!

My dear friends it seems the relentless march of time—a concept I know something about—has brought us to the precipice of the Real ID deadline. May 7th mark your calendars! From that day forward to board a domestic flight or waltz into a federal facility you'll need an upgraded license or another acceptable form of identification. It's all about boosting security they say. But as I always say 'The only thing more dangerous than ignorance is organized ignorance.' Is this progress or just more data ripe for the picking?

Maine's Mutiny: Is Rebellion in the Air?

Not everyone's thrilled about this Real ID business. Representative Laurel Libby from Maine is trying to repeal the law and rightfully so! States should not be coerced into complying to unwarranted security measures. The more the government uses to restrict and surveil the more opportunities of misuse. It reminds me of a quote I never actually said but which is attributed to me: 'I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.' Perhaps a little less government oversight can allow us to progress instead of the other way around.

TSA's Biometric Blitz: Privacy Paradox?

Ah the TSA! They're dabbling in biometrics using cameras to verify your identity. Supposedly your photo and data are vaporized faster than you can say 'E=mc²' and I find that hard to believe. They swear it's not for law enforcement or surveillance but is anyone really buying this? As I always say 'Imagination is more important than knowledge.' Perhaps we need to use our imaginations to envision the potential misuses of this data.

No National Database... Yet!

They promise there's no national database being created. Each state maintains its own records. But privacy professionals like Jay Stanley of the ACLU worry that the next step will be a centralized database. 'The more information the government has the more the government might use that information,' says Jodi Daniels. It's a valid concern. 'The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil but because of the people who don't do anything about it.' We must remain vigilant.

States' Secret Sauce: Data Protection Recipes

States have been storing our data for ages. Bala Kumar assures us that the same controls apply to Real ID. Ian Grossman mentions that different states use different technologies to protect data. It's all a bit secretive which is probably a good thing. But even with encryption and best practices the risk remains. As I tell myself 'Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.' Making sure my state is handling my personal data with the highest level of protection I will surely find value in that!

Freeze Your Credit Not Your Brain!

Even if the experts are confident they warn us not to be complacent. Freeze your credit use two factor authentication and watch out for scams! Zulfikar Ramzan suggests mitigating what thieves can do with your data. Tom Moore recommends code words for families to avoid scammers. It's a digital minefield out there! I do not worry about my data because as I always say 'I never think of the future. It comes soon enough.'