October 25, 2011 8:33AM 

# Biometrics Collection = Risk Creation 

By [Jim Harper](https://www.cato.org/people/jim-harper) 

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Why shouldn’t the government collect biometric data unless absolutely necessary? Things like [this](http://www.fastcompany.com/1790444/the-downside-of-biometrics-9-million-israelis-records-hacked) can happen to it:

> The stolen database contained the name, date of birth, national identification number, and family members of 9 million Israelis, living and dead. More alarmingly, the database contained information on the birth parents of hundreds of thousands of adopted Israelis—including children—and detailed health information on individual citizens.

It’s a good, short write-up from *Fast Company*. [Read the whole thing](http://www.fastcompany.com/1790444/the-downside-of-biometrics-9-million-israelis-records-hacked) and pass it along.

##### Related Tags 

[Technology and Privacy](https://www.cato.org/technology-privacy) 

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