Real ID Rebellion

Still Alive And Kicking

2009-06-16T07:50:00.002-06:00

The entire REAL ID issue has been remarkably quite for quite some time, but now it's rearing its ugly head once more. The powers that be, headed by Janet Napolitano at DHS are re-crafting and re-branding REAL ID.Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano wants to repeal and replace the controversial, $4 billion domestic security initiative known as Real ID, which calls for placing more secure

RFID Chips Coming To Your ID?

2009-03-02T11:34:00.003-07:00

Reports are coming out that the Obama administration may well be going ahead with plans to require "enhanced licenses" of all drivers in the US.Privacy advocates are issuing warnings about a new radio chip plan that ultimately could provide electronic identification for every adult in the U.S. and allow agents to compile attendance lists at anti-government rallies simply by walking through the

33 States Now Lining Up In Opposition

2007-05-14T14:06:00.000-06:00

When even the Department of Homeland Stupidity's own privacy department gives the REAL ID a thumbs down you know things are looking better for the REAL ID Rebellion! From Consumer Affairs:At least 33 states are pushing for laws or resolutions blocking the program, the Senate recently held hearings on its implications for civil liberties, and the Department of Homeland Security's own privacy

Montana Governor Says, "Hell No!" To REAL ID

2007-04-18T16:17:00.000-06:00

Montana's governor signed off on legislation barring participation in the REAL ID program and did so in no uncertain terms.HELENA - Gov. Brian Schweitzer signed a law Tuesday rejecting national driver's licenses for Montanans, saying the message to the federal government was "no, nope, no way, hell no."--------------"We also don't think that bureaucrats in Washington D.C. ought to tell us that if

Idaho Opts Out Of REAL ID Act

2007-03-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

Idaho's legislature has passed House Joint Memorial 3 and rejected participation in the REAL ID Act, according to the ACLU and the Idaho legislatures bill status site. The battle wasn't a very hard fought one, either. Kudos to the politicians in Idaho who have decided that a national ID card is a bad idea on many different fronts.On a vote of 19 to 14, the State Senate today approved House Joint

DownsizeDC.org fights the Real ID Act

2007-03-05T17:09:00.000-07:00

A long email from DownsizeDC.org about the Real ID Act and how they plan to fight it:Subject: How vs Why of Real IDDate: 3/5/2007 12:17:20 PM Central Standard TimeFrom: downsizer-dispatch@downsizedc.orgD o w n s i z e r - D i s p a t c hLast week, the Department of Homeland Security released 162 pages of proposed regulations for the Real ID Act. The bill was (and basically still is) slated to

The REAL ID Rules Are Out

2007-03-02T08:46:00.000-07:00

After foisting their national ID card scheme on us, the Department of Homeland Security has finally got around to putting out their requirements for federal ID cards (.pdf). The price tag has climbed, too. What was once a paltry $11 billion has now climbed to $23 billion and there is no expectation on my part that it won't grow even larger.Homeland Security officials released long-delayed

States challenge nat'l driver's license

2007-02-05T17:29:00.000-07:00

By LESLIE MILLER, Associated Press WriterSun Feb 4, 10:36 PM ET A revolt against a national driver's license, begun in Maine last month, is quickly spreading to other states.The Maine Legislature on Jan. 26 overwhelmingly passed a resolution objecting to the Real ID Act of 2005. The federal law sets a national standard for driver's licenses and requires states to link their record-keeping systems

Maine politicians exhibit rare backbone

2007-01-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

The political classes in Maine, for whatever reason, are showing some backbone by standing up to the Fedgoons and demanding repeal of the Real ID Act. Can we hope that there's truth in the old saw, "As Maine goes, so goes the nation."? Maine revolts against digital U.S. ID card By Jason Szep, Thu Jan 25, 8:27 PM ET Maine lawmakers on

Feds Bribe NH Senate

2006-08-11T08:26:00.000-06:00

Using tried and true methods to get their way the Federal government has decided to offer the politicians of New Hampshire a $3 million bribe to "test" REAL ID in their state. This "test" is nothing more than a way to lay the foundations for REAL ID in a state which has already said they wish to have no part in a national ID scheme.Members of the Granite State ID Coalition are urging Governor

REAL ID Nightmares: A Glimpse At Our Futures

2006-08-01T14:44:00.000-06:00

Not only are there no Federal guidelines in place to define the National ID Cards that will be issued under the REAL ID Act we can see that the early adopters, (who are saddling taxpayers with the bills) are showing us what is truly in store. I recently wrote about the myriad troubles that are plaguing Alabama in their misguided attempt to be an early adopter of the REAL ID fiasco, (at a guess so

More Lost Information

2006-07-27T11:34:00.000-06:00

The US Navy has once again lost more sensitive information according to a report in the Washington Post. Not once, but twice in the last two months the Navy had laptops with sensitive information "stolen" from their offices. This brings their total up to three times in less than two months. These are supposedly secure sites, and yet the US Navy cannot keep thieves from stealing their stuff.Add in

Cops, Computers And Mis-Identification

2006-07-26T14:26:00.000-06:00

Cops in Indiana are facing a dilemma right now. They cannot use the computers in their cars for fear of misidentifying people and making a false arrest. They also cannot make an arrest that might be "legitimate" because of erroneous information flowing from the Indiana BMV.The Bureau of Motor Vehicles' new glitch-ridden computer system is hindering police across the state, making it difficult for

Nightmare On Elm Street

2006-07-23T08:53:00.000-06:00

"Every town has an Elm Street", so claims infamous horror movie character Freddy Krueger and just as it is in the movies the nightmare of REAL ID is unfolding before the eyes of everyone who cares to look. The Las Vegas Business Press points out in a recent article that getting a Nevada license could well be a nightmare within two years and brings up a number of interesting facts on the matter,

The Shape Of Things To Come

2006-07-18T13:54:00.000-06:00

From not-so Great Britain, (via our comrade in arms, Bill St. Claire) comes a glimpse of our future under the REAL ID nightmare we are facing. Henry Porter, a subject of Her Majesty wrote a great piece on the subject of England's National ID card scam and National Identity Register and the lies behind it. If you think this may not have any bearing on the US, you might want to think again. The

Government Keeps Losing Information

2006-07-11T14:30:00.000-06:00

Yes, the federal government that expects us to trust it on Real ID keeps letting information on federal employees slip through its fingers. Here's the latest: Navy probes data leak on 100,000 sailors, Marines. First two paragraphs:The Navy said on Friday that it was trying to determine how personal information on more than 100,000 Navy and Marine Corp aviators and air crew wound up on a publicly

Wisconsin Takes A Lead in The War

2006-07-06T21:08:00.000-06:00

On May 30th, 2006 Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle signed Assembly Bill 290 into law. Now Wisconsin Act 482 is the law of the land in the Badger State and it outlaws requiring the implantation of microchips in individuals.AN ACT to create 146.25 of the statutes; relating to: prohibiting the required implanting of a microchip in an individualand providing a penalty.The people of the state of Wisconsin

Time to Dust This Place Off ...

2006-06-23T07:55:00.000-06:00

Hi! We're back! For those of you not yet familiar with the story, as the blog entry below states, I had moved this site to its own domain. Then a bug got into the Greymatter code, and I have been unable to eliminate it, which effectively shut down the site entirely. I'm not a hotshot coder, and since my requests for volunteer help went unanswered, I thought that was the end of this Rebellion ....

New Real ID Rebellion Site Now Online

2005-07-11T06:36:00.000-06:00

My apologies for the delay in moving the site over, but it is finally accomplished. Henceforth, the URL for the Real ID Rebellion is:http://www.realidrebellion.com/.Please adjust your bookmarks and links as necessary, as this site will not be updated further.All the entries made here, and all comments, have been moved over to the new site (no easy task, since Blogger doesn't have export

A Hint of Things to Come Here?; and Administrivia

2005-06-30T23:54:00.000-06:00

The Independent's entire story has disappeared behind a "purchase-me" link, but enough of it remains as a tease to give an unusually clear view of what the British government is up to with its NID pushing. The article is Ministers plan to sell your ID card details to raise cash, in case anyone wants to buy it. The entire tease is this:Personal details of all 44 million adults living in Britain

Putting the Brakes on Real ID at the State Level?

2005-06-23T21:46:00.000-06:00

No Real Bucks for Real IDThe Real ID Act requiring U.S. citizens to carry federally approved identification cards has created a potentially huge, unfunded mandate that is sending shock waves through state governments. State officials are just beginning to comprehend the enormous changes ahead for their motor vehicle departments, which must issue driver's licenses and store personal data in line

Another Way Real ID Act Will Make Identity Theft Easier

2005-06-16T04:48:00.000-06:00

From a Scripps Howard news story titled In future, driver's licenses may be mailed to you (emphasis mine): Because DMV officials are going to have to verify the information -- and that process will take some time -- experts predict that most busy DMV offices soon will send licenses and renewals via the U.S. mail, just like most U.S. passports are currently delivered.Jason King, spokesman for the

Great Real ID Graphic!

2005-06-15T06:41:00.000-06:00

I was visiting the Loose Cannon Libertarian for my regular fix, when my still-sleepy brain registered an amusing addition to the animated graphic at the top of the page. Love it!! (And thanks for the link, Garry!)I've taken the liberty of cropping his artwork, because the ID there is just too good to not be spread further. Here's Garry's version of the Real ID, which is much too truthful to be

Fun, Fast Way to Get Some Anti-Real ID Memes Spread

2005-06-14T06:32:00.000-06:00

Okay, writing letters to the editor isn't much fun for many people. And writing to politicians? Yeah -- even less fun. How about this as an alternative for spreading anti-NID ideas? Artist Cranks Up No-Name Rants."What would you say, given one free minute of anonymous, uncensored speech?"So asks Ohio State University MFA student Daniel Jolliffe in a thesis project that aims to plumb the nuances

Russell Kanning Arrested In Manchester Airport Protest

2005-06-12T15:37:00.000-06:00

We mentioned a while back that a protest was in the works in New Hampshire. Here's the latest:Libertarian Arrested In Manchester Airport ProtestA Keene Libertarian who tried to board a flight carrying nothing but a Bible and a copy of the Declaration of Independence was arrested Saturday at Manchester Airport.Russell Kanning, 35, was arrested after refusing to comply with security screening

High-Schoolers See Problems with Real ID

2005-06-12T05:31:00.000-06:00

Despite all the hurdles public schools present to kids, they still manage to learn. Here's proof, in an op-ed from the Walt Whitman MD High School student paper, Black and White Online. Repeal Real ID Act, allow for personal privacy is quite solid -- here's an excerpt:Even if the government had the power to keep track of every possibly threatening citizen in the country, this power fundamentally

Action: Let USA Today Know Your Thoughts

2005-06-09T11:48:00.000-06:00

Today I came across this editorial by Randall Larsen advocating national identity cards preceded by "privately issued travelers cards" as an interim measure on USA Today's website:Traveler's card might just pave the way for a national ID cardAmong other things, Randall writes:Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., recently changed his mind. Twenty years ago, as governor of Tennessee, he vetoed a bill

Changing the Rules Mid-Game

2005-06-08T06:13:00.000-06:00

From Bruce Schneier's excellent security blog comes word that the Justice Department has gutted HIPAA -- the medical privacy act that was passed in 1996. From the New York Times article, Ruling Limits Prosecutions of People Who Violate Law on Privacy of Medical Records (here's BugMeNot if you aren't inclined to register with them):An authoritative new ruling by the Justice Department sharply

How Much Will Real ID Cost?

2005-06-07T13:21:00.000-06:00

Among the many negative features of Real ID is that, of course, we the taxpayers will be soaked to pay for it. But for how much? Here's a glimpse into the debate in North Carolina:Real ID Act a blow to state DMV budgetUnfunded law will take effect 2008Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., who sponsored the bill, said he thought it would cost the average state less than $2 million over five years.

University ID's- Blueprints for Real ID?

2005-06-06T22:23:00.000-06:00

Some years back when I attended The University of Arizona, the school implemented new student identification cards with machine-readable chips and magnetic stripes (possibly also a bar code- I can't recall) dubbed the CatCard. Like the Real ID is planned to be, the CatCard was basically an internal passport to University services- picture identification, library card, stored "money"

A Target and a Reply

2005-06-06T07:01:00.000-06:00

This brief, vague editorial in the Connellsville Daily Courier (Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh) is the epitome of the simplistic mindset the Real ID Rebellion needs to counter. Here's the entire piece:If the National Governors Association really wanted illegal immigration reduced and homeland security increased, it would support the Real ID Act of 2005.This legislation kills two birds with one

House of Representatives' Privacy Policy

2005-06-04T18:11:00.000-06:00

Well, well, well. I was looking at Jim Sensenbrenner's website and found something interesting. Scroll to the bottom and click on the link to the House of Representatives' Privacy Policy. Is he trying to tell us something?

Who Do You Trust with Your Information?

2005-06-02T05:47:00.000-06:00

A Long Beach Press Telegram editorial highlights something that everyone should think about before unthinkingly giving out any information -- and of course, that means it's especially important if one's still thinking about how far to take the protest of the coming NID. The subtitle of the piece says it all, but I'll quote from Real ID theft: This law could be a boon to thieves:To feel

Swiss company WISeKey partners with HP and Microsoft

2005-06-01T18:47:00.000-06:00

Security: Wisekey, HP and Microsoft Authenticate Electronic IdentitySecurity, terrorism, biometrics. To say the least, these concerns were at the heart of intense activity during the last few days. Early in the week, Brussels was receiving the first post-election visit of the US Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, who encouraged Europeans to tune their security controls to US

ID News

2005-06-01T11:15:00.000-06:00

From the LA Times: Federal ID Act May Be Flawed; and an excellent piece at GovTech: Invasive ID. In case anyone's unclear as to how far this NID will reach, it's spelled out here (emphasis mine):The broad set of rules, known as the Real ID Act, would require states to issue federally approved electronic identification cards, including drivers' licenses. Licenses and ID cards must include a

Creating Workarounds for the NID Enablers

2005-06-01T07:23:00.000-06:00

Our coverage of Hewlett Packard and Microsoft's involvement in the coming National ID (which I'm going to start abbreviating NID) has gotten a fair amount of attention. Thanks, everyone! Many good comments have been offered, suggesting alternatives to Microsoft and HP products. That's an important step to take, for several reasons:1] By not supporting these companies, they have fewer profits to

More Commentaries

2005-05-31T06:23:00.000-06:00

Preserve the Republic -- Scrap Real ID, an open letter to CongressAnd two from The Libertarian Enterprise:Repeal the Real ID Act, by Todd Andrew Barnett; andNot a Good Week by Ron Beatty.Both of the TLE pieces, although written for a libertarian audience, are excellent for sharing with nonlibertarians you know who don't yet know what's coming with the Real ID Act.

Two from Friends

2005-05-30T15:02:00.000-06:00

A conspirator of mine, Cat Farmer, has penned a nice diatribe to Hewlett Packard after reading about their contributions to the national ID system. A sample:Is it good governance to tag and track people like cattle under the guise of protecting their liberties and ensuring their security, or an extemely bad and treacherous joke? When a government seeks to secure the well being of those in power

An open letter to Congress

2005-05-30T00:24:00.000-06:00

The following link will take you to an impassioned piece written by Elizabeth Cameron and published at Antiwar.com: Preserve the Republic - Scrap Real ID: An open letter to CongressWith today being Memorial Day, it is important to think of all the men and women who have served in the military over the years along with what they thought they were trying to defend. Many of those people, including

Wikipedia acknowledges Real ID Act

2005-05-29T02:55:00.000-06:00

I thought I'd pass along the news that Wikipedia now has an entry devoted to the Real ID Act. Since Wikipedia is an open encyclopedia that anyone can edit, this gives us rebels a chance to use this medium to further educate people about the dangers associated with the Real ID Act. The "controversy" section in particular could use a lot of additional meat added to it. I added a link to this

Microsoft, HP partner on national ID systems

2005-05-28T11:54:00.000-06:00

I was going to give Microsoft the benefit of the doubt (yes, go ahead and laugh), but apparently that is not going to be possible. They are clearly active partners with HP:Microsoft, HP partner on national ID systemsHewlett-Packard and Microsoft (Profile, Products, Articles) are working together to offer governments national identity systems built on the .Net platform.The tech giants have been

Spying Chips Possible in the New IDs

2005-05-28T05:42:00.000-06:00

Federal report warns of RFID misuse is the relatively benign-sounding headline. But look at two statements within the piece (I'll put them in bold in this quote to make that easier): Radio frequency identification is becoming increasingly popular inside the U.S. government, but agencies have not seriously considered the privacy risks, federal auditors said.In a report published Friday, the

Action: Hewlett-Packard National Identity System product queries and complaints

2005-05-27T12:28:00.000-06:00

Having read Sunni's post and having a free day on my hands, I decided to take some time to poke the hornet's nest that is the HP National Identity System.Ironically, HP's privacy policy states:HP respects the privacy of its customers and is committed to protecting it. As a leader in the world of e-commerce and information technology services, HP also leads the way in the worldwide marketplace in

Peeking Behind the Curtain

2005-05-27T07:17:00.000-06:00

I apologize for the prolonged absence here. It isn't due to lack of attention or interest, that's for sure! The Rebel team is currently deep into a discussion of tactics, and it's looking pretty certain that what we want to do is going to outstrip Blogger's capabilities. So, rather than add more stuff here that will only need to be exported somewhere else, we're working on our plan. We'll letcha

More News and Commentary

2005-05-25T05:54:00.000-06:00

Here's a very interesting interview on what the Real ID Act says about standardizing drivers' licenses. It's with a VP of Card Scanning Solutions.Via the SaltyPig, a bit of tripe pushing the idea that the Real ID doesn't go far enough: This country needs a real national ID card.I'm hoping to add another post later today -- something of substance on activism. And thanks to a friend, I ought to get

Good Cartoons/Graphics on Real ID

2005-05-23T15:25:00.000-06:00

Russmo, a libertarian cartoonist, has a great one currently at the top of his home page on the Real ID. So does the nice proprietor of Plug Nickel Times. Once I figure out how to handle graphics through Blogger, I'll get 'em up here (I cheated on the one from my other site).

Tom Knapp Asks What to Do About "Real ID?"

2005-05-20T20:09:00.000-06:00

And he has some answers. You may not be willing or able to go for all of his suggestions (I'm not myself), but odds are good you'll find something here that is useful to you. (Someone please tell me more about these pre-loaded debit cards that can be reloaded on the Internet or at local kiosks.)

NH: Man Without I.D. Vows to Board Flight or Be Jailed

2005-05-20T11:49:00.000-06:00

Some New Hampshirites are taking action!I received an e-mail this week from Kat Dillon alerting me to an upcoming planned act of civil disobedience on 11 June 2005 inspired by the Real ID Act.Excerpts from the press release:Russell Kanning of Keene has announced he will approach a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at Manchester airport on June 11 and refuse to cooperate with

Real ID Act to Get First Court Test Next Week

2005-05-20T04:53:00.000-06:00

Case will test REAL ID asylum law, says the World Peace Herald. Here are the first two paragraphs of the story:"A federal court is scheduled next week to hear the first case in which the Bush administration is using controversial provisions of the newly minted REAL ID Act that limit the right of appeal for people refused asylum. "Ablavi Malm, 51, was ordered deported to Togo because her appeal

Burn Your License

2005-05-19T10:20:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Mary Lou Seymour of Rational Review News for pointing this one (and several others) out to me: Burn Your License. Author Annalee Newitz starts out strong and just keeps rolling:"During the Vietnam War, people protested the draft and U.S. policy in Vietnam by burning draft cards. It was a symbolic gesture -- a way of refusing to be counted as a citizen willing to fight a morally dubious

News and Graphics

2005-05-19T05:18:00.000-06:00

They Really Are Watching You, by Mark Morford of the San Francisco ChronicleReal ID Act mostly helps identity thieves, editorial in the Mercury News (if you aren't registered there, BugMeNot can get you in)Your Papers Please, Komrade, an open letter to the New Hampshire Congressthugs who voted for the Real ID Act, by Carl BussjaegerYesterday, I learned that James Sensenbrenner, the Wisconsin

Who Is Pushing Real ID?

2005-05-18T23:18:00.000-06:00

One of my first thoughts upon hearing that more than 600 organizations are opposed to Real ID was, "Well then who supports it?" I suspect that it might be useful to understand who is driving this effort and what they are arguing.Some preliminary findings:Smart Card Alliancenomoreamnesty.comCoalition for a Secure Driver's LicenseNumbers USAAnd let us not forget that Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle

TwoThree More Resources

2005-05-18T06:19:00.000-06:00

Claire Wolfe pegs the impact of the Real ID Act for freedom-minded individuals who refuse to submit to a national ID in a recent Backwoods Home Magazine column: We're All Illegal Aliens Now.The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has a page on its web site devoted to Real ID news and commentary. Scroll down to view the "news items", which is still being updated.Strike the Root has a

Good Summary of Problems with the Real ID Act

2005-05-17T18:41:00.000-06:00

William Statler has written an easy to read overview explaining why the Real ID Act is so bad: Real ID - Real Problems.More tomorrow -- I'm nursing a bad cut on a finger and have typed too much today already.

Brief News Roundup

2005-05-16T06:08:00.000-06:00

Real ID Act spurs real concerns, Florida Today, 5/13. What's most noteworthy about this piece is the ignorance displayed by some of the individuals quoted in it.Real ID Act has problems, editorial in The Olympian, 5/15. Good glimpse of how the driver's license bureaucracy will bloat, and bog down, as well as a solid criticism of how the Real ID Act was foisted upon this country.Last, from the "

Preliminary Thoughts on Rebelling

2005-05-15T08:13:00.000-06:00

So, we're rebelling against the coming NID (national ID) ... what exactly does that mean? To me, it means a helluva lot more than saying, "Sign me up!" and posting a cool graphic on one's web site, and then going back to the daily trudge of one's life. The U.S. Congress and President Bush have, in making the Real ID Act law, thoroughly gutted liberty in this country -- to say nothing of

The Real ID Rebellion Begins!

2005-05-13T11:14:00.000-06:00

Thank you, Bill St. Clair, for spelling things out so clearly. Thank you, David Codrea, for the suggestion. Thank you, Claire Wolfe, for the motivation.While I get some things together behind the scenes to flesh out this space, I invite anyone interested in signing on to visit the Liberty Round Table's outdated project page for our National ID protest. From there one can find various graphics and