Security Experts on Real ID

Top security experts agree that the Real ID Act will not protect New York from terrorism:

"I have studied identification and identity cards carefully, and I want you to know that a national ID is neither a protection from terrorism nor a response to the attacks of September 11, 2001. A national ID would satisfy the federal government's demand for control -- not Americans' genuine need for security and law enforcement."
-- Jim Harper, Director of Information Policy Studies, CATO Institute; Member, Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

"Real ID is another lousy security trade-off. It'll cost the United States at least $11 billion and we won't get much security in return... For the price, we're not getting anywhere near the security we should."
-- Bruce Schneier, CTO of BT Counterpane, the world's largest network data security firm.

"Our security depends on people -- whether documented or undocumented--having the means to identify themselves and to cooperate with the police and other authorities... Our ability to locate terrorists is enhanced if law-enforcement officials in turn can find the people they are looking for -- and driver's license databases are a useful tool for this purpose."
-- Lt. Col. Margaret Stock, U.S. Army Reserve; Law Professor, U.S. Military Academy, West Point

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