Consequences of Convenience
By Trent LoosI remember the first time I heard about using retinal eye scans on cattle as a form of identification. I thought that was pretty cool. However, I recently watched a futuristic movie starring Tom Cruise where retinal scans had been implemented into every segment of the human population. When you walked into a grocery store, you would be scanned and your complete purchase history would be visible on a computer screen. Then a computer-generated voice would say something like, “Good morning, Mr. Loos. The pork loin you purchased last week is on sale today”. As the credits for the movie rolled, my friend commented, “that is a little too far out there for me.” Well, it looks like the future has arrived.
The human form of retinal scanning is called biometrics. ABC news reported earlier this week that, while biometrics is still in it’s infancy, companies across all industry sectors are expected to spend about $800 million on biometric technology in 2004, according to Boston-based research firm Celent Communications. That number is expected to leap to $4.3 billion by 2006.
Financial institutions seem to be leading the way by using voice-printing, retinal scanning and finger printing as personal identification in place of pin numbers. There are actually grocery stores in this country where you only need to be packing a fingerprint to pay for your purchases.
With all this technology already in place, what are the experts suggesting will be “right around the corner”?
Tom Manning, a senior partner at Bain & Co Inc., an IT strategy and management consulting firm based in Boston said. "My view is that we will probably see some 70% of consumer transactions utilize one or more versions of a biometric technology within three years time. I don't think consumers will go through a week without interacting with biometrics," Manning added. "Let's face it, September 11th put biometrics on the map, creating an immediate recognition of how critical security has become in our connected society."
I have been thinking about how using a credit card allows people to build too much of a database about me. So when does this technology become a “right to privacy” issue? Interestingly enough, the most significant report I found on privacy issues came from an 1890 Harvard Law Review.
"It could be done only on principles of private justice, moral fitness, and public convenience, which, when applied to a new subject, make common law without a precedent; much more when received and approved by usage." Willes, J., in Millar v. Taylor, 4 Burr. 2303, 2312.
The bottom line is that as long as we consumers think that it is cool not to need to reach into our pockets to pay for merchandise, we are allowing unlimited amounts of information to be compiled on us. Another interesting parallel I see here are all the references to Sept 11, 2001, which are used as justification for accelerating this technology. Does that sound familiar?
The one cow that tested positive for BSE on Dec. 23, 2003 certainly didn’t create the move towards a national identification system but it certainly put it on the fast track like the wind moving a prairie fire. Don’t misunderstand me, I am not dead set against a national ID system for cattle. That would be fruitless because it is going to happen. But it needs to happen with the input of all individuals that will be affected.
In the big picture, I have nothing to hide when it comes to my livestock. My concern lies with the computer voice that greets me on site and has a better recollection of my past than I do. Ironically, all of this is done in the name of national security. We live in the safest country in the world and yet some dream of creating a Utopia that will never exist.
The founding fathers of this country set forth a Constitution and a Bill of Rights that allow the citizens of this great nation to create the society we want to live in. It’s too bad they didn’t create a third document called “Consequences of Convenience.” If people really considered where all of these “technologies of convenience” could take them, they may just decide to go back to paying for their groceries with cash!
