For immediate release:
March 1, 2007
Contact:
David McGuire
(202) 637-9800 x106
WASHINGTON -- The Department of Homeland Security today released proposed regulations to implement the controversial REAL ID Act. While CDT will closely review the 162-page document and file detailed comments, our fundamental position remains that the REAL ID Act itself must be repealed.
CDT has joined other civil liberties groups in supporting legislation introduced in recent days in the House and Senate by Senator Akaka and Representative Allen to repeal the hastily enacted 2005 law. The legislation calls for a return to the driver's license reform process that was underway before the REAL ID Act terminated it.
CDT is especially concerned that the Act will result in the creation of a linked network of government databases of personal information, without standards or limits on access and use.
"CDT is concerned with an often over-looked aspect of the REAL ID system: the creation of a back-end database of personal ID information. It's unclear what information will be contained in such a database and how government agencies will be permitted to use it," said CDT Fellow Sophia Cope. "The REAL ID system may be decentralized, but if it is widely accessible, for purposes other that administering the driver's license system, it could turn into a massive tracking system."