Rattle wrote:

FBI officials this week are expected to announce a $1 billion contract for the creation of a massive database of people's characteristics -- from eye patterns to palm prints. The agency says it's needed to track terrorists and other criminals. One privacy advocate says it's the start of "surveillance society."

This "security and privacy are a zero-sum game" shit has got to stop.

Putting aside those concerns for a moment, I expect this to become a fiscal spending nightmare. If FBI's attempt to modernize it's records system is any indication, this will wind up costing $5 billion before it's used in a single case.

These people need to be reigned in.

Reminds me of this BoingBoing article - US-VISITS cost $15million per crook caught.

Can you imagine this being extended to other crimes? Would it be worth $500,000 to catch a graffiti artist?

We're already seeing this effect from Red Light cameras. My city has a very nice system (complete with signs that warn you there is a red light camera, so it's not as sneaky). We're not making enough in revenue to pay the lease on the system.

I'd be interested to see a cost/benefit analysis from London.