New Oklahoma Driver's License Stirs Privacy Concerns

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK-- The new driver's license in Oklahoma raises some questions about privacy.

"It's something every Oklahoman should be concerned about," said Seth Rott, former legislative aide to Senator Randy Brogdon. 

Rott says he worked closely with Sen. Brogdon when he helped lead Oklahoma's efforts to opt out of the Real ID Act. 

 "What we're starting to see is the taking of Biometric data, and moving it away from criminal aspects to a more civil usage," said Rott.

Morpho Trust USA, the company that upgraded the state's driver license issuance system says the new license will meet rigorous security requirements and help achieve the goal of "one person, one ID," even though state lawmakers barred Real ID in Oklahoma.

"It is a little bit alarming, that all of us are going to end up in a database, when we've really haven't done anything wrong," said David Slane, Fox-25 Legal Analyst.

While DPS says the security features are the same on the new license, meeting the national requirements has some folks worried.  Rott says he worries about DPS gaining the ability to collect biometric data. 

"There's instances where they can release that data for usage," he said, "so it's not just used exclusively for driver's licensing."

One example is the Republican National Convention.  Rott says law enforcement tested a system that allowed officers to scan the crowd with smartphones and tablet computers, using a picture to collect data on any suspicious people.

"You had these protesters there and people knew exactly who they were, where they live, and probably what party they were," Rott explained.

Debate wages over privacy, but Slane says collecting biometric data could also help homeland security.

"It might prevent some domestic terrorists from getting ID's," he said.

Rott believes as more Oklahomans get issued the new driver's license, DPS needs to be more forthcoming with where the information goes.
 
"I would encourage the Department of Public Safety to review what they're doing," said Rott.  

New Oklahoma Driver's License Stirs Privacy Concerns

Posted: Sunday, September 30 2012, 10:30 PM CDT