Wednesday, May 16, 2007

In his May 8 op-ed, "An Identity Crisis We Can Ease," John Lehman voiced his support for the Real ID Act, which creates federal standards for driver's licenses and other identification. Mr. Lehman wrote, "There will be no federal database drawn from states complying with Real ID."

In fact, Real ID requires that departments of motor vehicles' databases in all 56 jurisdictions be linked and information be shared, creating a de facto national ID database. It will make Americans' personal information easier to steal. Businesses and hackers will easily snap up information, turning Real ID into a one-stop shopping mall for identity thieves.

The databases created by Real ID will contain Americans' most personal information -- such as Social Security numbers and copies of birth certificates -- that workers at DMVs and federal agencies across the country will be able to access. And the machine-readable component that Real ID requires will allow easy tracking and monitoring of ordinary, law-abiding Americans and place our personal information at risk.

Let's not be fooled: Determined terrorists will always be able to obtain fraudulent IDs. The fact that the Department of Homeland Security is threatening state leaders to get them to implement Real ID does not make this program any more acceptable. Ten states have already opted out of the program, and many more are on the way. Congress can and must follow their lead and fix the problems with Real ID.

TIMOTHY SPARAPANI

Legislative Counsel

American Civil Liberties Union

Washington