Story Highlights
*FBI expected to award $1 billion contract to help collect data on people
*Privacy advocate says it's the first step toward a "surveillance society"
*FBI says it's needed to help track terrorists and other criminals
* Palm prints and optical eye scans likely to become more common
CLARKSBURG, West Virginia (CNN) -- The FBI is gearing up to create a massive computer database of people's physical characteristics, all part of an effort the bureau says to better identify criminals and terrorists.
But it's an issue that raises major privacy concerns -- what one civil liberties expert says should concern all Americans.
The bureau is expected to announce in coming days the awarding of a $1 billion, 10-year contract to help create the database that will compile an array of biometric information -- from palm prints to eye scans.
Kimberly Del Greco, the FBI's Biometric Services section chief, said adding to the database is "important to protect the borders to keep the terrorists out, protect our citizens, our neighbors, our children so they can have good jobs, and have a safe country to live in."
Full Story:
FBI eyes $1 billion surveillance deal - CNN.com
02-04-08, 11:45 AM
