Governor Jerry Brown’s veto in October of legislation that would have allowed Californians to voluntarily carry drivers’ licenses embedded with RFID chips has landed on an IT think tank’s annual list of moves “stymieing the progress of technological innovation.”
State Sen. Ben Hueso introduced the enhanced driver’s license through SB 249 in order to help speed U.S. border crossings. In vetoing the bill, Brown wrote that he did not want to burden the Department of Motor Vehicles with additional requirements and believes the U.S. Passport Card serves the same purpose for identification.
The nonprofit Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) on Monday pegged Brown’s veto one of 10 nominees for its 2015 Luddite Award – a reference to 19th-century textile workers who opposed technological progress.
“Privacy advocates have long demonized RFID technology by invoking the specter of ‘spy chips,’ ITIF noted in its report detailing the nominees. “… Moreover, these privacy groups fail to point out that RFID chips on drivers' licenses do not contain or store personally identifying information; they merely store a unique number that links a motorist to a Department of Homeland Security database. A person with an RFID reader would also need access to the database to get any personal information. Policymakers should embrace rather than oppose these RFID technologies for drivers’ licenses.”
ITIF’s list of its 2015 nominees include:
1. Alarmists tout an artificial intelligence apocalypse.
2. Advocates seek a ban on “killer robots.”
3. States limit automatic license plate readers.
4. Europe, China and others choose taxi drivers over car-sharing passengers.
5. The paper industry opposes e-labeling.
6. California’s governor vetoes RFID in drivers’ licenses.
7. Wyoming outlaws citizen science.
8. The Federal Communications Commission limits broadband innovation.
9. The Center for Food Safety fights genetically improved food.
10. Ohio and others ban red light cameras.
ITIF invites the public to vote for the winner at www.itif.org/ludditeaward.
