Larry Ellison backs ID cards

NEWS Oracle chief Larry Ellison is claiming increasing support for his scheme to introduce a national identity card scheme for the US, running on Oracle naturally. He recently met US Attorney General John Ashcroft and spooks from the CIA and FBI. Ellison said they could get the scheme up and running within three months. He told the San Jose Mercury News the scheme would check identity by scanning people's thumb prints and checking them against centrally held records. Cards would be voluntary for US citizens but compulsory for foreign visitors. Ellison offered to donate Oracle software for the project.