Politech: FC: NYT: Virginia wants arrestees' DNA; Hong Kong plans digital ID

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

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Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2002 23:32:56 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty () roscom com>
Subject: Virginia May Collect DNA in Every Arrest for a Felony

February 17, 2002

Virginia May Collect DNA in Every Arrest for a Felony

By FRANCIS X. CLINES

RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 11 - Virginia is on the verge of making a quantum
leap in amassing DNA evidence by requiring that everyone arrested on
suspicion of a violent crime yield genetic samples for possible
matches in unsolved cases.

The state already has the nation's largest bank of DNA because it
takes saliva samples from each state convict. Expanding DNA swabbing
to all those arrested in major felonies would be the most sweeping
use of genetic testing by any state. The plan has prompted warnings
about privacy invasion and the abuse of defendants' rights. But both
houses of the Legislature adopted versions of the plan this week
without debate.

...

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/17/national/17DNA.html

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Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2002 23:27:20 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty () roscom com>
Subject: Fine-Tuning For Privacy, Hong Kong Plans Digital ID

February 18, 2002

Fine-Tuning For Privacy, Hong Kong Plans Digital ID

By MARK LANDLER

HONG KONG, Feb. 15 - The border crossing between Hong Kong and
mainland China was choked the other day as more than five million
people took to the road to visit their relatives for the Chinese New
Year.

It is an annual ordeal, marked by restless jostling and muttered
curses as the crowd waits, sometimes for hours, while the guards
examine people's papers. It may also be a thing of the past.

Starting next year, Hong Kong plans to introduce an identity card
with a computer chip that will contain a digital replica of the
cardholder's thumbprint. To cross the China frontier, a person with
the card will hold it against an optical reader while placing his or
her thumb on a screen.

...

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/18/technology/18KONG.html




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