The FBI biometric database - domestic spying comes in from the cold

somewhere along the line, domestic spying has become an accepted fact... how else to explain this out-in-the-open, page one, wapo story...

FBI Prepares Vast Database Of Biometrics
$1 Billion Project to Include Images of Irises and Faces

By Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, December 22, 2007; Page A01

The FBI is embarking on a $1 billion effort to build the world's largest computer database of peoples' physical characteristics, a project that would give the government unprecedented abilities to identify individuals in the United States and abroad.

Digital images of faces, fingerprints and palm patterns are already flowing into FBI systems in a climate-controlled, secure basement here. Next month, the FBI intends to award a 10-year contract that would significantly expand the amount and kinds of biometric information it receives. And in the coming years, law enforcement authorities around the world will be able to rely on iris patterns, face-shape data, scars and perhaps even the unique ways people walk and talk, to solve crimes and identify criminals and terrorists. The FBI will also retain, upon request by employers, the fingerprints of employees who have undergone criminal background checks so the employers can be notified if employees have brushes with the law.

"Bigger. Faster. Better. That's the bottom line," said Thomas E. Bush III, assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division, which operates the database from its headquarters in the Appalachian foothills.

not so long ago, news like this would have caused an unprecedented public outcry... now, we're accepting this type of unobstructed domestic surveillance with a shrug... but, it's all for our own good, right...? RIGHT...?

just to make the point a little more clear about the mindset that's allowing this kind of outrage to occur, here's an exchange between two individuals commenting on the above wapo article...

williepete1 wrote:
jvandeswaluw1 wrote:
As a merchant navy officer I visited plenty of Muslim countries. What struck me was that they had much better manners than Americans/Europeans.
============

Navy officer?? You stated in a post some months ago you were "let go" from the military since you couldn't endure that lifestyle, and didn't agree with that philosophy. You said you were busted down in rank.

You meant Merchant Marine I'm sure. You are not a warrior.

Well, sure the Muslims are polite, some are very nice. Get to be good friends with them because soon they will own your banks, mortgages, schools, public services et cetera. Shortly thereafter, those services will, as in most Muslim countries, revert to third world class services.

Welcome to mediocrity non-suspecting, non-surveilling Europe!! Glad to have ya!

takeaway: our government is doing everything it can to protect us from islamofascism...

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