National Identification Putting It All Together (Jamaica)

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Monday | July 31, 2017

Defence attorney, Bert Samuels, is raising alarm at plans by the government to empower the police to collect fingerprints from items and objects in public spaces.

National Security Minister, Robert Montague, has disclosed that the Fingerprint Act will be amended to give effect to the change.

Montague, who was speaking last week at a crime forum at the Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference, said the move is part of the government’s wider crime strategy.

But, Samuels says he’s concerned that the law governing the taking of fingerprints is being expanded beyond judicial control.

Primarily, it is a judge sitting in certain courts such as a Circuit Court, a Traffic Court or a Parish Court, who can order that persons accused of certain offences submit their fingerprints.

Those offences include murder, sex crimes and breaches of the Dangerous Drugs and Firearm acts.

The police are empowered to take fingerprints but in limited circumstances.

Police to get power to take fingerprints in public spaces, attorney raises alarm



2015-06-11

Stakeholders in the child protection sector have taken a major step to strengthen the Child Protection Database (CPD), the central repository of information on children in Jamaica.

The Child Development Agency which spearheads a technical working group of government, non-government and donor agencies hosted stakeholders at a breakfast meeting yesterday (June 10) at the Terra Nova Hotel to discuss the way forward for the CPD.

The CPD was launched in 2012 as the central repository of child-centred statistics in Jamaica.

The database currently includes some 87 categories of information on children.

The system is supported by a technical working group of over 12 entities including the Ministry of Youth and Culture; the CDA; the Office of the Children’s Registry; Office of the Children’s Advocate; UNICEF; the Ministry of Justice; the Correctional Services; Planning Institute of Jamaica--Jamstats; the Statistical Institute of Jamaica; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Labour and Social Security; the Ministry of Health and the Statistical Institute of Jamaica. Speaking at yesterday's event Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Culture Mrs. Sherrill O’Reggio-Angus underscored the importance of the database in guiding policy-makers to make informed decisions on child protection matters, noting that it was crucial for the country to safeguard its children. Pointing to the need for the definitions on the database to be clear, Mrs. O’Reggio-Angus said: “People must be on the same page as to what the information represents; I crave the participation of all partners to maintain the currency and accuracy of the database.”

She expressed confidence that the CDA will find new ways to provide updated information to the database.

CEO of the Child Development Agency Rosalee Gage-Grey noted that since the launch of the system in 2012, this was the first time that stakeholders had the opportunity to come together to discuss, assess and plan the way forward for the database.

“As we work to finetune targeted strategies to address the issues facing the nation’s children, having current, accurate and accessible information is key to the process,” she said.

Noting that the CPD was a work in progress, Mrs. Gage-Grey said. “All of us are keen to see the database fully populated so that it can begin to take its place as an invaluable reservoir of child protection information in Jamaica and globally.

Child Protection Database being strengthened



March 24, 2017

How do you prove who you are to a computer?

You could just use a password, a shared secret between you and the machine. But passwords are easily compromised—through a phishing scam, or a data breach, or some good old-fashioned social engineering—making it simple to impersonate you.

Today, you’re often asked to produce something more fundamental and harder to imitate than a password: something that you are rather than something that you know. Your fingerprint, for instance, can get you into a smartphone, a laptop, and a bank account. Like other biometric data, your fingerprints are unique to you, so when the ridges of your thumb come in contact with a reader, the computer knows you’re the one trying to get in.

Your thumb is less likely to wander off than a password, but that doesn’t mean it’s a foolproof marker of your identity. In 2014, hackers working for the Chinese government broke into computer systems at the Office of Personnel Management and made off with sensitive personal data about more than 22 million Americans—data that included the fingerprints of 5.6 million people.

When Fingerprints Are as Easy to Steal as Passwords




Saturday | May 13, 2017

Minister of Education, Youth and Information Ruel Reid said the Government is having dialogue with the Broadcasting Commission with a view to putting on the table proposals to regulate a significant section of the local media landscape that is not now being regulated.

"When you now look at the media landscape, it (Broadcasting Commission) is now only regulating 20 per cent; 80 per cent is now in social media dimension. What are the guidelines? What are the ethics that should guide that particular sector?" Reid questioned.

The information minister highlighted the administration's concerns that the mainstream media was expanding into social media with no "clear regulatory guidelines for the persons who are operating in that".

His pronouncements in the Upper House yesterday triggered concerns among the parliamentary opposition, which cautioned against a move to censor the media.

Government considers regulating social media



MAR 5, 2015

Over a year ago I wrote a piece for Forbes that warned of serious security concerns created by theApple AAPL -0.67% iPhone’s TouchID fingerprint authentication; I speculated then that hackers could gain unauthorized access to users’ data by using lifted fingerprints. Days later, hackers successfully did just that.

This week, Qualcomm QCOM -0.09% announced a new smartphone fingerprint authentication technology that might offer dramatic improvements over TouchID. The new offering leverages sound waves to create and analyze a detailed three-dimensional replica of a user’s fingerprint, something that cannot be impersonated simply by lifting prints off the side of a phone, as can commonly-used two-dimensional prints.

Why You Should Not Use The New Smartphone Fingerprint Readers



December 21, 2014


The right to privacy

This right is protected within domestic and international law. Chapter three of the Jamaican Constitution, The Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, has given protection to this right. Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) provides that no one shall be subjected to an arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, home, or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his honour and reputation, and that everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.



The right to privacy is not simply a right to be "left alone", but rather an individual's fundamental right to freely communicate with others in order to fulfil their personal development. It was underscored that the right to privacy is interlinked with the right to freedom of expression: the two are mutually dependent upon one another and both facilitate the ability of individuals to participate in free and democratic societies. The right to privacy is a liberty right, protecting an individual's choice what to share and with whom.


How is this right assessed? International human rights law provides a universal framework when assessing any interface referencing an individual's privacy. This was echoed by Resolution 68/167 of the UN General Assembly. While the right to privacy is not absolute, any limitation to it must:



a. Be provided by law with clear and precise meaning, establishing clearly who is authorised to conduct data surveillance and under what circumstances; and



b. There must be a legitimate aim bolstered by necessity and proportionality thus enabling the least intrusive option.



There may be instances where limitation is placed on privacy based on national security or the right to life of others. When this is invoked, the burden is on the authorities to show that the limitation is really connected to the legitimate aim.



Furthermore, any limitation to the right to privacy must not render the essence of the right meaningless and must be consistent with other human rights, including the prohibition on discrimination. Where the limitation does not meet these criteria the limitation is unlawful and the interference with the right to privacy is arbitrary.

The right to privacy in digital age




September 6, 2010

Education Minister, Hon. Andrew Holness, has said that the Ministry will be implementing its new National Student Registration Programme during the upcoming academic year.

The new system will seek to capture information on all students in the school system and placed on a single national database.


“Technology is such that we now have the capacity to capture, manage, analyse and utilise data for the entire population. Normally we work from samples, so we have to draw inferences from anecdotal information, but the Ministry is now moving to capture information on every single child in the school system,” he explained.


Mr. Holness was speaking to journalists at a press conference held at the Ministry in Kingston on September 1, to address back-to-school matters.
He said implementation of the new system would give the Ministry an effective planning tool that would provide significant benefits for students, adding that the new system would operate in a distinctive way, where every child that is registered in a school would be given a unique identification number.


“That number will become their account number in education and every bit of information and transaction that happens in education with that child, will be recorded, reported and deposited in that information account,” he outlined.
Mr. Holness further informed that for the first time, the Ministry would be able to nationally record the Grade One Individual Learning Profile of the child, which would show the student’s state of readiness. “So, we will know the children who started out being ready, almost ready and not ready, and we will be able to track the development of the child,” he said.

The Minister said the new system would also be able to give educators a chance to detect whether behaviour has had an impact on the child’s performance, as well as capture information on the child’s household.

Mr. Holness pointed out that the system would make the process of registration for examinations much easier on both parents and teachers, as once the student is already in the national database, there would be no need for any further entry registration for examinations.

National Student Registration Programme to be Implemented this School Year



September 1, 2010

The Child Health and Development Passport, which contains information about the growth and development of a child from birth to 17, was officially implemented today (September 1), during a press briefing, held at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital, downtown Kingston.

In his remarks, Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness, explained that the passport, which was developed in collaboration with his Ministry and the Ministry of Health, begins the process of tracking the health and developmental stages of the child.

Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness, holds up a copy of the Child Health and Development Passport, at the official implementation of the document at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital today (September 1).

“We now have the technology and the capacity to know what is happening in the population. So, if every child has this document which details their health and education status, then we know exactly what is happening in the entire population,” the Minister said.

“I would like to appeal to parents to assist us in ensuring that the passport is properly utilised, so that your child can receive all the benefits intended. Do not leave the hospital without one after the birth of your child. Take the passport with you when you visit the health clinic, family doctor, dental practitioner and a new school,” Mr. Spencer advised.

Child Health and Development Passport Implemented



Wednesday | August 18, 2010

Concerns over the alleged misuse of fingerprinting data just won't go away, since law-enforcement personnel scooped up numerous Jamaicans in raids following the west Kingston incursion in late May.

Another dimension of the so-called misuse has surfaced with at least one human-rights group raising concerns that fingerprints collected by the Ministry of National Security for migration purposes are being illegally retained in its database.

Convener of Families Against State Terrorism, Yvonne McCalla Sobers, told The Gleaner this was the account given to her by an applicant.

"I went to the Ministry of National Security's office on Oxford/Hope Road to pay to have the police do my fingerprints for migration purposes," the applicant wrote to FAST.

"Can you believe that there was a sign which informed the public that the prints will be kept to assist the police in their fight against crime?" the obviously surprised applicant asserted.

Attorney-at-law Bert Samuels says while he was not aware of the sign, this ought not to be.

"You can't give your fingerprint for Reason A and it is used for Reason B," Samuels asserted.

More fears over fingerprints



August 12, 2010

Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, was today (August 12) presented with the first copy of the new Child Health and Development Passport, ahead of its official launch on August 18.

The health passport, which forms an integral part of the country’s National Strategic Health Plan, is slated for implementation on September 1. The project is being carried out in a collaboration between the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) and the Ministry of Health.

The initiative is expected to track the development of Jamaican children from birth onwards, through the use of Health Passports, instead of immunization cards. The passport will comprise comprehensive records on children from birth up to age 17 years.

Mr. Spencer, during the handing over ceremony at his office, downtown Kingston, congratulated the teams from the ECC, as well as his Ministry on the successful development of the new initiative, which he said was “a tremendous job,” completed in a relatively short time.

Director of Family Health Services in the Ministry, Dr. Karen Lewis-Bell, said the document would replace the conventional immunization card.

“The Child Health and Development Passport will become a requirement for all babies born on and after September 1,” she told JIS News. It will also incorporate the immunization records.

Dr. Lewis-Bell noted that information to be included in the document would include medical history, nutrition guidelines, growth charts and educational and developmental tips for parents.

“This is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Health and the Early Childhood Commission, as part of our National Strategic Plan for Early Childhood Development in Jamaica. The Child Health Passport is a comprehensive passport that covers the growth and development of children,” she pointed out.

First Copy of Child Health Passport Presented to Minister Spencer

 

[Dave-W]

Does the bible teach we have a "Right to Privacy?"

 

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Does the bible teach we have a "Right to Privacy?"

There is no scripture in the bible that says that there is a right to privacy. There are scriptures that shows the importance of privacy. For example in 2 Samuel 24 verse 1-13


David did a census because of pride and was punished


2 Samuel 24

[1] And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
[2] For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
[3] And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?
[4] Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.
[5] And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:
[6] Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan, and about to Zidon,
[7] And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hibites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beer-sheba.
[8] So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
[9] And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
[10] And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
[11] For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,
[12] Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
[13] So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
[14] And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.


More than once a decree was given where male babies should be killed. This is where leaders ordered all babies of a certain age and sex be killed. In Exodus 1 midwives or persons who help women who are pregnant, health workers, were ordered by their Pharaoh to kill every male child born. In Exodus 2 Moses had to be hid because of the decree that Pharaoh gave for all male child to be killed. In Matthew 2 verse 1-19 King Herod ordered male babies 2 years and under to be killed.


The reason why I mentioned this scriptures was to show that the only way a male child would be protected essentially is by not being easily identifiable by the kings or leaders of those countries. This is why Moses had to be hid by his mother.


Exodus 1 verse 8-22

[8] Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
[9] And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
[10] Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
[11] Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
[12] But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
[13] And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:
[14] And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
[15] And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:
[16] And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
[17] But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
[18] And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
[19] And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.
[20] Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
[21] And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
[22] And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.


Exodus 2 verse 1-4

[1] And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
[2] And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
[3] And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.
[4] And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.


Matthew 2 verse 1-20

[1] Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
[2] Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
[3] When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
[4] And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
[5] And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
[6] And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
[7] Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
[8] And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
[9] When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
[10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
[11] And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
[12] And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
[13] And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
[14] When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
[15] And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
[16] Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
[17] Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
[18] In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
[19] But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
[20] Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.


The bible also talks about not being a busybody.


1 Peter 4 verse 15


[15] But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.