How Your Overlords View Your Privacy

Chertoff Says Fingerprints Aren’t ‘Personal Data’

"In a recent briefing with Canadian press (which has yet to be picked up in the U.S.), Chertoff made the startling statement that fingerprints are “not particularly private”:

QUESTION: Some are raising that the privacy aspects of this thing, you know, sharing of that kind of data, very personal data, among four countries is quite a scary thing.

SECRETARY CHERTOFF: Well, first of all, a fingerprint is hardly personal data because you leave it on glasses and silverware and articles all over the world, they’re like footprints. They’re not particularly private."

Nor is your breath, saliva, sweat, urine, feces, your thoughts, websites you visit, the words you speak or your social security number you give to your employer.