By Jim Burns
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
September 24, 2001
(CNSNews.com) - Increased talk about the possibility of a national identification card is drawing increased fire from privacy advocates.
Discussions about an ID card began to re-percolate following the September 11 attack on the United States, with several Members of Congress saying the issue was one that merits fresh consideration as the nation looks for ways to improve national security from terrorist attacks like those on New York and Washington, D.C.
Following a September 20 report by CNSNews.com, there have been increasing discussions about the proposed ID cards. Those discussions grew after Larry Ellison, CEO of software giant Oracle, reportedly suggested an ID card with a digitized photo and thumbprint.
A spokesperson for Oracle also confirmed that Ellison said he would be willing to make the technology for such an ID card available to the government at no cost.
At least one public opinion survey shows significant support for an ID card, but one that's targeted only at Arabs.
A USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll last week showed that 49 percent of those responding would support mandatory IDs for Arabs in the U.S., including American citizens of Arab heritage.
The survey results drew fire from the Libertarian Party Monday, which criticized the idea as a Taliban-style ID.