As the digital landscape is quickly transforming, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Next Generation Identification (NGI) Iris Service will likely come under scrutiny for the potential infringement on privacy and civil liberties.
The service, in collaboration with Iris ID’s technology, has amassed a staggering 2.5 million identities and is burgeoning at an astonishing rate of around 100,000 new identities monthly. In addition to this, the service has access to fifteen million identities present in other federal government databases.
While this might seem like a boon for law enforcement agencies in tracking down criminals, it raises serious questions about the extent of surveillance and the potential misuse of biometric data.
The fusion of Iris ID’s technology with the FBI’s program has been ongoing since 2014. The service allows access to an enormous repository of iris biometric data coupled with fingerprint and face biometrics.
In a world where data breaches are not uncommon, the protection and ethical use of this sensitive biometric data become paramount.
There is a potential risk of this information falling into the wrong hands or being exploited in ways that infringe upon civil liberties.
The recent integration of presentation attack detection capabilities into the FBI’s service is also worthy of examination. Though intended to thwart deceptive attempts against biometric systems, the wide-reaching surveillance capabilities have tremendous downsides. There is a thin line between safeguarding national security and creating a surveillance state, which could be detrimental to the freedoms and privacy of individuals.
What’s more, Iris ID is working on mobile capabilities, which may extend the reach of this biometric data collection.
While this may be beneficial in high-volume scenarios like prisoner transportation or border control management, it also opens the door for sweeping surveillance that may not be justifiable. The accessibility and mobility of such data collection tools should be weighed carefully against the right to privacy.
Mohammed Murad, Iris ID VP of Global Business & Development, claims that the adoption of the technology is an indicator of the increasing appeal of iris recognition. However, one must ponder whether this appeal is blurring the crucial distinction between security and invasion of privacy.
Article cross-posted from Reclaim The Net.
Why One Survival Food Company Shines Above the Rest
Let’s be real. “Prepper Food” or “Survival Food” is generally awful. The vast majority of companies that push their cans, bags, or buckets desperately hope that their customers never try them and stick them in the closet or pantry instead. Why? Because if the first time they try them is after the crap hits the fan, they’ll be too shaken to call and complain about the quality.
It’s true. Most long-term storage food is made with the cheapest possible ingredients with limited taste and even less nutritional value. This is why they tout calories so much. Sure, they provide calories but does anyone really want to go into the apocalypse with food their family can’t stand?
This is what prompted the Llewellyns to launch Heaven’s Harvest. They bought survival food from multiple companies and determined they couldn’t imagine being stuck in an extended emergency with such low-quality food. They quickly discovered that freeze drying food for long-term storage doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor, consistency, or nutrition.
Their ingredients are all-American. In fact, they’re locally sourced and all-natural! This allows their products to be the highest quality on the market, so good that their customers often break open a bag in a pinch to eat because they want to, not just because they have to due to an emergency.
At Heaven’s Harvest, their only focus is amazing food. They don’t sell bugout bags, solar chargers, or multitools. They have one mission – feeding Americans in times of crisis.
What they DO offer is the ability for people to thrive in times of greatest need. On top of long-term storage food, they offer seeds to help Americans for the truly long-term. They want them to grow their own food if possible which is why they offer only Heirloom, Non-GMO, Non-Hybrid, Open-Pollinated seeds so their customers can build permanent food security on their own property.
