[LINK] Hacker backs DNA database

[Luke Burton]

On Wed, 18 Oct 2000 richard@auscoms.com.au wrote:

> While identity theft is a heinous and disruptive crime, having it would be
> better than the incredible intrusion involved in DNA as authentication. 
>
[snip]
> 
> While we're touting the wonders of digital, could we also look at whether we're
> helping create a world in which our freedoms are seriously curtailed? All in the
> name of "our own good", of course.

W.r.t the DNA database, I believe it would be a positive thing, provided
it operates under suitable guidelines. Obviously, having to authenticate
your DNA for reading a book online gets a bit extreme - as authentication
implies activity tracking as well, and *that* is what starts to make me
worry. I'd like to think that I can purchase and read a book, without it
coming back to haunt me (Can you think of what joy the present Chinese
regime would have with being able to track people's online reading
habits?)

Something like DNA authentication should be reserved for financial
transactions over a certain amount, or the establishment of
accounts. That's doesn't solve all the problems of identity theft, but it
might help curtail the problem, without making you feel like your life's
activities are being associated with your DNA and written to disk
somewhere.

L8r

Luke.

-- 
Luke Burton, Analyst Programmer.
inter-touch Pty Ltd (http://www.inter-touch.com).

"How should I know if it works?  That's what beta 
testers are for.  I only coded it." (Linus Torvalds)