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Net Gain Business Consultants: America's Privacy Threatened by New AICPA Fingerprint Database
Net Gain Business Consultants: America's Privacy Threatened by New AICPA Fingerprint Database
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The AICPA is allowing a foreign
data-mining corporation access to tens-of-thousands of US fingerprints, and
Anchorage-based Net Gain Business Consultants is leading a national movement
to stop them. "Haven't we surrendered enough privacy? This illogical,
unnecessary, and un-American obsession with collecting fingerprints of
innocent people is just wrong. Accountants should NOT take the CPA exam until
this new, risky Orwellian program is shut down," says its President Jason
Giaimo.
For the first time in 121 years, the venerable AICPA is forcing examinees
to submit fingerprints "for identification purposes" -- or be forever barred
from the CPA exam regardless of identification presented. One candidate showed
his passport, license, SScard -- even a birth certificate.... but was
prevented from testing due to "insufficient identification." Passports are
sufficient identification to travel the world and enter theUSA -- but not to
take the CPA exam?
"This seems like 'security theatre' notes world-renown biometrics expert
Dr. James Wayman, Director of the National Biometrics Test Center. These
systems are notoriously prone to false negatives -- "I personally know someone
who washed their hands during an exam break, and wasn't recognized by the
scanner due to the new moisture state of their fingers... this experience
would not be uncommon, it's hard to understand the business case for this."
National ACLU Director Barry Steinhardt is monitoring developments, stating
ominously "Fingerprinting enables the Always On Surveillance Society."
Executives at The Institute of Management Accountants, who offer an
alternative to the CPA (the CMA) have rejected fingerprinting candidates.
"This vendor approached us too, but we concluded it was expensive, unnecessary
and risky to our member's privacy."
NASBA officials say data-broker Choicepoint is storing the fingerprints --
the same company hit with the largest fine in Federal Trade Commission history
($15m) for "making false and misleading statements about privacy policies,
violating privacy rights and Federal laws." ChoicePoint sold highly
confidential information of over 163,000 Americans to Nigerian criminal
gangs -- and recently announced its being acquired by foreign data-miner
ReedElsevier.
The AICPA/NASBA have agreed to review their fingerprinting program during
its meeting May 19th. Mr. Giaimo urges action: "America -- this puts us ALL at
risk... call AICPA President Barry Melancon (212) 596-6001 or visit
http://www.NetGainConsultants.com to comment.... the Land of The Free is
counting on you!"
Net Gain is an independent accounting firm providing clients with Interim
Controllers/CFOs and accounting project assistance. Contact Jason Giaimo
(907)248-4910
SOURCE Net Gain Business Consultants
Copyright © 2008, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze,
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