by Peter T. Kilborn
ABSTRACT - Growing reliance on fingerprinting stirs little opposition in a nation increasingly troubled by terrorism and identity theft, and even more widespread use of it is on way up. What was once acceptable only for criminals is becoming routine for consumers in most of Texas, California, Middle West and Florida who cash checks at places other than their own banks. Businesses and government agencies defend the practice as a reasonable response to widespread trafficking in false identifications. Civil rights advocates worry fingerprinting is being used to intimidate people who patronize businesses that serve lower-income people. Som wonder if fingerprint databases can be protected from abuse.
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