"Smart card" concept praised, criticized
By Sheldon Yoder

Talk is underway about the possibility of introducing smart ID cards for all U.S. residents. Its proponents claim that it will be sophisticated and handy; privacy advocates, however, feel the card would do little to separate the innocents from the security threat.

The card would most likely employ an optical memory strip, capable of storing 4MB of information, such as a photo and digitized fingerprint, as well as other pertinent information. The photograph would most likely be laser-engraved, making it much more difficult to counterfeit.

Another feature being discussed is an integrated circuit microprocessor, allowing the card to perform data manipulation and cryptographic algorithms. This would enable ER doctors to access pertinent medical information but restrict them from viewing other security-related details that an airport or INS agent would need. The internal memory strip could store up to 20MB of data, a capacity which could grow 10-fold in the near future.

So far the Bush administration has remained cool about the idea, but that could change if the new Department of Homeland Security re-examines the concept.

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