Identity Theft Protection Challenge: Balancing Security and Privacy without Increasing Risk of ID Theft
July 20, 2007
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In an article that appeared on Yahoo, "Find Out if Your Printer is Spying on You" (related link available at end of this article), Christopher Null raised an issue emphasizing how difficult it is to balance Security and Privacy. Such delicate balancing act could also lead to the undesired effect of actually increasing the risk of Identity Theft.
According to the article, it was discovered in late 2005 that many makers of color printers embed a unique signature, comprised of a yellow dots pattern, unperceivable to the naked eye. Such signature makes it possible, when examined under blue light and a microscope, to trace printed color documents to the producing printer (and its owner).
Critics of such technology are concerned about its implication on Privacy Protection. In addition, they are concerned that such capability can be abused for purposes that may lead to a violation of human rights and freedom of speech. According to the article, "there are also signs of abuse, with the FBI reportedly using the technology to keep tabs on who's printing material for groups like the ACLU and Greenpeace."
Supporters of such technology praise it for enhancing Security and fighting crime. For example, such technology can be used in fighting money counterfeiting. It is also possible to fight crimes perpetrated against children, by tracing photos distributed by pedophile criminals. Some would also argue that such technology can help fight Identity Theft, by tracing photos placed on fake identification documents and passports. Most importantly, such technology may also be useful in tracking terrorists through colored documents they may have printed.
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Both critics and supporters of such technology make valid points. Balancing Privacy and Security is a very difficult act. Consider "Privaworld", a fictitious world where there is 100% Privacy, and no one knows anything private about anyone. Criminals would love to be residents of Privaworld. How is it possible for them to ever be caught, if no one ever knows anything about them, with no record of their fingerprints, addresses, aliases, etc..? It is obvious that criminals in Privaworld can only be apprehended if they are caught in the act of performing their crime. However, to catch a criminal in the act also means you need more watchful eyes. More watchful eyes also mean loss of Privacy... Such philosophical conundrum is impossible to overcome; a secure Privaworld is impossible to exist (unless its inhabitants are always 100% honest...)
Now consider "SecureWorld" a world that is 100% secure, and has no crime whatsoever. Such world can only exist if all its inhabitants are 100% honest, or if every criminal is either caught preemptively or immediately following his crime. Catching a criminal preemptively, or immediately following a crime, is only possible if substantial information is available on such individual and his activities. To gather such data on all residents, and keep a watch on all of SecureWorld, results in a total loss of Privacy. Until all human beings become 100% honest, SecureWorld can only exist in a world totally lacking Privacy.
It is obvious that we have to settle for a practical world that has neither 100% Privacy, nor 100% Security. Depending on the cultural, as well as philosophical and ethical composition of different communities, such communities will settle into a "natural" balance of Privacy and Security. Communities that enjoy and foster honesty and integrity are likely to enjoy a high degree of Privacy and Security. It is also possible that in such communities, Privacy is not as important to its residents. Individuals naturally like to protect their Privacy for two reasons: to enhance their Security, and simply for the sake of wanting to retain personal matters to themselves (possibly an instinctive human trait of self defense and preservation). Hence, if their community enjoys a high level of Security, they may be less concerned about the aspect of Privacy relating to Security.
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It is possible that if a community tries to enhance its Security beyond its "natural" balance of Security and Privacy, that the risk of Identity Theft would increase. In the case of the traceable color printers, criminals could resort to stealing color printers that cannot be traced to them. Such act is a form of Identity Theft, as innocent victims whose color printers were stolen, could be suspected and accused of crimes they did not commit. In addition, if criminals are capable of reproducing the yellow dot signature retrieved from someone's printed color documents, they can produce documents under such stolen signature, and possibly frame others for crimes they did not commit.
Similarly, Identity Theft related to stolen Social Security numbers used by illegal immigrants has been increasing recently. Some have argued that such increase is a result of a new system provided by the government, which employers can use to check whether a certain Social Security number is a valid one or not. As a result of such system, illegal immigrants, who can no longer provide a fabricated or false Social Security number, are being provided with stolen Social Security numbers that actually belong to others. This is a clear example of a Security measure that has inadvertently resulted in a new motive for committing Identity Theft.
Until the day arrives where we have organically transformed the integrity of our collective community, we may have no choice but to live in a world prone to Identity Theft, and where our Privacy is somewhat compromised. Furthermore, as we require new security measures, and create new identification validation measures, we may sometimes inadvertently exacerbate Identity Theft. Given such realities, individuals need to do all they can to deter Identity Theft through personally employed measures, such as Credit Monitoring, Locking Down access to their Credit Report, adding their name to the national Do Not Call List, registering for Pre-Screen Opt-Out, Shredding documents, and more....
Related Links:
Credit Report Lock Down
Credit Monitoring
National Do Not Call List
Pre-Screen Opt-Out
Find Out if Your Printer is Spying on You - Yahoo, July 18, 2007
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