U.S. Government Launches Official Agency to Manage Biometric Database

All hail BIMA, the new U.S. biometrics agency

By Jeremy Hsu Posted 03.29.2010 at 3:22 pm 3 Comments

Army Biometrics U.S. Army Staff Sgts. Jerrod McClure, foreground, and Aaron McFarland, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, input Iraqi's data into a biometrics system Dec. 15, 2008, in Nimrud, Iraq, as part of the application process for Iraqis applying to work on a road repair project in the city. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. JoAnn S. Makinano

Collecting fingerprints and other biometric data has long allowed law enforcement and the military alike to track down wanted individuals, solve cases, or just keep tabs on people. Now what was a U.S. government task force under the U.S. Army has officially become a full-scale national security agency in charge of biometrics, according to the Secrecy News blog run by the Federation of American Scientists.

The Biometrics Identity Management Agency (BIMA) has a responsibility that spans the entire U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and would specifically support the DoD's "authoritative biometrics database" in the name of national security.

Scientists have been steadily developing newer and better biometric-recording devices, ranging from 3-D fingerprint scanning to capturing facial features. Or how about tracing specific persons to the keyboards or weapons that they handled simply based on the bacteria that they had on their hands?

The DoD database receives "thousands of [biometric] records" every day, according to a 2009 DoD report. That suggests U.S. warfighters, spooks, and officials have been very, very busy collecting data from potential adversaries or people of interest in the field.

Looks like the smartphones being used by U.S. soldiers might be getting smart biometric scanner upgrades sooner than we thought.

[via Secrecy News]

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3 Comments

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stiuengleza

03/29/10 at 5:50 pm

Ce tara misto e SUA! Unde guvernul oprima fiecare individ in parte. O sa va implanteze GPSuri obligatoriu. Data viitoare cand vi se solicita amprentele solicitati-le si voi lor. Pai nu se poate altfel. Guvernul vostru nu va apara ci se apara pe el insusi de voi.

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kabosht9

04/03/10 at 12:48 pm

Google translation of the above:

What's cool country USA! Where the government oppress each individual. I will implant GPSuri binding. Next time you ask for fingerprints and you ask them their. Well you can not otherwise. Your government will not defend himself but to protect you.

Hmmm...

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Hungary

06/20/10 at 5:42 am

it's a good point that the Department of Defense (DoD) senior leadership has recognized the important role. that biometrics play in prosecuting the global war on terrorism, protecting our troops, and securing national security interests
Visit Hungary: www.hungriabonita.com/hungria

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