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 the USA -- 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
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Related links:
http://www.NetGainConsultants.com
CONTACT:
Jason Giaimo of Net Gain Business
Consultants, +1-907-248-4910
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