Senator Briefly Brings Fake Driver's License App To The Public Eye Before Having It 'Taken 'Round Back And Shot'
from the i-hate-this-therefore-no-one-else-can-have-it dept
Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania has taken virtual pen in hand and crafted a letter to Tim Cook, Apple's new CEO, in order toHe has a lot to say in his
Dear Mr. Cook:
I write to express my concern with "License" by DriversEd.com, an application available for download in Apple's App Store which can be used to create counterfeit identity documents. I believe this application poses a threat to public safety and national security, and I request that you remove it from the App Store immediately.Sure, to the average iPhone user (who, until today, had most likely never even heard of this app), this piece of software looks like a clever little distraction that could be used to crank out replica IDs, only with cleavage, buttocks or buttock cleavage in place of the usual mug shot. Or perhaps the average user might whip up a couple of fake IDs for their 10-year-old twins in the interest of making them easier to tell apart.
Bob Casey sees it another way. The only purpose this app serves is to grease the wheels of a multitude of criminal and terrorist enterprises.
By downloading "License", anyone with an iPhone or iPad can easily manufacture a fake driver's license by taking a photo and inserting it into one of fifty state driver's licenses' templates. Users then have a high quality image resembling an actual driver's license which they can easily print, laminate, and use for any number of illegal and fraudulent activities.Waitwaitwaitwaitwait. ... what?
"Laminate?"
I may not have done any actual research on this, but I'm fairly sure laminated state IDs went the way of the mimeograph machine and the Fourth Amendment. I'm guessing the only place a laminated ID is valid is at the community college book store and even then, the student discount does not apply to textbooks.
Today's typical state ID is a modern marvel, chock-full of holograms, magnetic strips and a thinly disguised Mark of the Beast.* It takes a bit more than some purloined office supplies to create a passable fake these days and your average inkjet just isn't up to the task.
*Bible Belt only.
Moving on:
While DriversEd.com markets the app as a fun game, it can also be used in a way that allows criminals to create a new identity, steal someone else's identity, or permit underage youth to purchase alcohol or tobacco illegally.Once again, if a laminated fake is out there living your life in a ways you only dreamt possible, your beef is with those who accepted a laminated printout as a legitimate form of identification, not with the app that helped create this faux-you that went out skydiving/dynamite purchasing. This includes the staff at the bottle shop who have just become both everyday heroes and easy marks for hundreds of thirsty (and previously smoke-free) teenagers.
But the real issue here (among several other equally real issues, except that this is truly the REAL issue) is the threat this app poses to America!
National security systems depend on the trustworthiness of driver's licenses, yet with a counterfeit license created by this app, a terrorist could bypass identity verification by the Transportation Security Administration, or even apply for a passport.Good lord! This isn't an app! It's an all-in-one terrorist creation kit! Your (probably) non-local terrorist need do nothing more than sign a 2-year contract with a cell phone company, download and install the app, take a couple of headshots, take a couple more headshots with Instagram for old-time lulz and then it's off to the explodey races!
But Bob isn't done yet. It's back to the original "real" problem:
By assisting in the creation of counterfeit driver's licenses, "License" threatens to ease deception by criminals and contribute to the rising problem of identity theft. Given these risks, I request that you remove this application from the App Store immediately, as well as any other available applications that allow users to create, steal or alter false identities.So... all photo apps need to be deleted? Any photo editing software? Anything that could pull up a template or reference image for photo IDs? Like say, browser software? How about the built-in camera, Bob? Should that be removed as well? After all, it does take pictures, and as we have seen, a facial photo is the gateway drug to corrupting minors, racking up Mom's JC Penny card and attempting to detonate underwear bombs.
The best part about this overwrought letter? Thousands of people who had no idea something this much fun/trouble was available in the app store are now being informed that yes, such a thing exists and here's the link to purchase it. [No longer available. See below.] Does it ever occur to people like Senator Casey that maybe, just maybe, if no one else is worked up about something that maybe the best thing you could do, as a person in a position of power, is just let it go? Otherwise, Sen. Barbra, this is the sort of thing that happens. Everyone thinks you're ridiculous and the app in question enjoys a spike in popularity.
The lesson is: if you want to see something you'd like to get rid of go viral instead, just throw your weight around and start cranking out blustery emails to corporate CEOs.
PREPRESS UPDATE:
And Apple has killed the app. I suppose with millions of other apps still for sale there's no reason to make a stand for a single app. That doesn't make it any less disappointing to find out that with the right name signed to the bottom of a misguided letter is all it takes to get someone else's craftwork killed. I guess the real lesson is:
Senator Casey takes a moment to congratulate himself over at his website:
"I urged Apple to take the responsible step of removing this dangerous app, and I'm pleased that the app is no longer available in the store," Senator Casey said. "As Pennsylvania and states across the country deal with the rising problem of identity theft, tools that facilitate breaking the law should not be available to potential criminals."Roughly translated:
"I overreacted to something and now it is gone. We still have our work cut out for us dealing with the rising problem of identity theft and I am sure that pulling this app has done little to nothing towards fighting that problem. Instead, it has given the office of the Senator the appearance of Having Done Something, and in the end, isn't that what really matters?"
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: apps, bob casey, divers license, overreaction
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
If "National security systems" can be so easily fooled by a simple smartphone app, the problem isn't with the smartphone app, Mr. Senator.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
For instance, they generally have very small micro - printing that takes a good magnifying glass to find and even then it can be difficult to find without looking hard. Even high resolution scanners can't easily focus on this micro printing and high resolution printers can't easily replicate it.
Putting them under a UV light often reveals an encoded message.
Also, drivers licenses generally have a black strip across their vertical edges, it prints halfway into the edge (not the corner, but in the middle of the vertical edge if you turn the license sideways). Most printers can't easily emulate that since they can't easily print halfway in between a page's edge.
Unfortunately, the biggest problem is that many people are unaware of these security features and so not everyone knows to check for them.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I had my identity stolen once...
I had my identity stolen once; I wondered around aimlessly not knowing who I was. After I got my identity back I was hoping someone else would steal it. After all, when it was gone I had not responsibilities, no job, nobody knew who I was. I could come and go as I please. Once I got it back people recognized me, made me report back to work, pay my bills and so on.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: I had my identity stolen once...
Hmm. . .
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Or, in other words: Somewhere out there was an app that I didn't like. Fortunately I was able to censor it without bothering with the law or due process. Go me!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Insider
Things like this app are just a silly distraction and not causing any real harm or facilitating any real identity theft.
And you're correct, every US state has been on solid plastic (unlaminated) licenses since 2004 or earlier.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Insider
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Insider
Given recent events, such as:
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/11/28/1646237/new-jersey-dmv-employees-caught-selling-identi ties
Would anyone care to speculate on what the cost of a "real" fake license is?
I'm going to guess that it's within the budget of everyday criminals.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Insider
http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases11/pr20111206a.html
$2,500 to $7,000 or so, if you want to be from New Jersey.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Insider
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Insider
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Misconception
Second, a passable fake is very easy to create. You dont need much more than an ID card printer, blank cards, a good template, and Photoshop. If you don't have a connect for holos, then they can be simulated by applying pearlex using a custom-made stamp made with a stampmaker kit.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Obvious Next Step
Problem solved.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I hope someone calls the Senator on this crap. It amazes me how little they seem to use simple common sense to make decisions.
As for Apple's response I really am not surprised. They are always quick to pull apps even on silly reasons as this one.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Sounds perfectly reasonable.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
I think that if all 100 senators did nothing things would be much better. (I realize that is an oversimplification but I think my point is clear)
Every time one of them "does something" it creates more problems than it was supposed to fix.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
This doesn't excuse him lobbying Apple to unilaterally pull the app, mind you. I'm sure the developers would have been willing to modify the images enough to be visibly different from a real license even without the hologram stuff if he'd contacted them with his concerns directly instead of going over their heads.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Combined with some carbon paper, a carbon paper press, and some laminate, you could be genuine, certified ID thief... in the 80s.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
On an iDevice!?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Clarification: Lamination
As for the quality of state IDs, there are still some states without good quality security features and anyone can purchase holograms or magnetic strip encoders to create IDs that won�t fool professional examiners but might be good enough to get you into a bar or cash a check.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Clarification: Lamination
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Clarification: Lamination
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Clarification: Lamination
I'm pretty sure what you're talking about isn't what the average card faker (IE: 17yr olds buying smokes and 20yr olds buying beer) is capable of with a printer and a laminating machine
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Clarification: Lamination
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Clarification: Lamination
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Clarification: Lamination
Nice team you have here in the comments.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Clarification: Lamination
> constitutional law. Have you thought about
> that?
That would seem to present quite a conundrum then. How are federal agents supposed to identify themselves when needed if it's unconstitutional for them to possess a federal ID?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Response to: Anonymous Coward on Dec 13th, 2011 @ 11:49am
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Response to: Anonymous Coward on Dec 13th, 2011 @ 11:49am
> flashing lights.
It is illegal in some states to sell red-and-blues for non-police vehicles.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Missing the real point threat
There's a game in the app store right now that teaches suicide bombing! Thanks to Apple's negligence children, some in this very country, are being taught to kill capitalist pigs by sacrificing wave after wave of martyrs in order to bring their buildings down upon them! It's a despicable cartoonified 9/11 over and over again! When is Sen. Casey going to put an end to this?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
OMG!?
They might have to use a paint program instead.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
It's not like we have massive unemployment or a national economy that's in shambles and that needs serious attention...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No holograms required...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No holograms required...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No holograms required...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Ouch
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/fake-id-app-maker-responds-to-apple/2011/ 12/13/gIQAbvhEsO_story.html
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Who needs an app?
In September 2005, eight people, including Ronald Henry, a former police officer working for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, were arrested for issuing hundreds of Pennsylvania driver�s licenses and commercial driver�s licenses to illegal aliens using breeder documents�in this case, legitimate birth certificates from Puerto Rico�to pose as U.S. citizens. Altagarcia �Grace� Rosario, with fellow conspirators, would provide these breeder documents to Henry, who would use them to fulfill Pennsylvania identity requirements for driver�s licenses but then would falsify records indicating that driver�s license testing had been passed and that the individuals were entitled to a license.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Chances are, though, since the message came from the internet, he may not take kindly to me using my real name, address, and phone number, as well as my email, because I'm not a threat to the NSA.
Then again... hold on, there's a knock on my door...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Great... just great...
That reminds me of what my great-grandpappy used to say, "If apps are illegal, only criminals will have apps." My great-grandpappy was a wise man and ahead of his time.
However, this does make me wonder what set Mr. Casey off on this particular rant in the first place, because that level of indignation usually means it's something personal.
My working theory is that his youngest daughter printed, laminated, and presented to him a fake driver's license showing she was actually a 25 year-old bleached blonde gold digger. He didn't see the lamination or check for a hologram carefully enough and fell for it hook, line, and sinker.
Obviously he didn't want to get caught with someone like that in his house, so he handed her the car keys and let her head off to the nearest drinkin', carousin', wimmin-gone-wild party with his blessing. This whole brouhaha was just fallout from his embarrassment when his wife got home and asked where their daughter was. Suddenly he realized she's not a 25 year old gold digger, she's actually 14 and way too young for such shenanigans. "Yeah... fool me once..."
But this isn't limited to Mr. Casey. I, for one, am thankful this horrible app can't fall into MY daughter's hands. There's no way I can memorize all the driver's license attributes of all fifty states. With this incredibly powerful technology at her disposal my otherwise smart, responsible daughter would have at least 49 chances to fool me into believing she is:
* One of her teachers at school who just needs a "blanket permission slip for everything in perpetuity" signed
* A little old man who only drives 35 miles an hour and wants to borrow my car for the weekend so he can take it in for an oil change and tune-up
* A refugee from the planet Alderaan who barely escaped before her planet was destroyed and for some unknown reason needs to borrow my credit card in order to get outfitted in the latest cool teen fashions. (Actually, I'd catch on to that one, because cheap knock-offs of Alderaanian Class I Landspeeder licenses are SO obvious.)
And that's just my daughter. Heaven only knows what this software could have enabled less responsible people to do if left unchecked. I feel safer already.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
2. This does nothing, it's security theater, no more no less.
3. Congratulations on buckling down to pressure Mr. Cook. You just lost any form of respect.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Even if it wasn't I suspect that it would do less to bring on terrorists than to add a few hundred thousand candidates for shows like "Canada's Worst Drivers" on the roads than any real sort of security threats. (Watching shows like that makes me want to start one called "Canada's worst driving testers".)
Licenses on both sides of our borders are plasticized have built in RFID and other junk designed to replace passports to that Canadians and Americans can move back and forth across "the world's longest undefended border" with the ease we could before W got all concerned about false reports that the 9-11 bombers came into the USA on ferries that travel between Nova Scotia and Maine.
Made passport offices rich mind you and gave the respective federal governments a badly needed injection of cash.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
You mean EDLs? Those are fairly rare. If your license doesn't have three lines of strangely-shaped text on the back starting with "IDUSA", "IDCAN", etc., you don't have an RFID chip.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
to those specifically thinik an app is a bad idea.
I condone nothing, information Is free. its power. And its legal, its some actions that greatly seem to be otherwise and I am against those. but as a semi-retired (im still under 25 damnit don't think im decrepit)graphic designer whos moving into the world of cosmetology nursing aesthetics massage and some form of electrology. if theres information im familiar with first hand, I will be giving the facts to anyone whos curious, and just a little fyi for all you "UUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH FAKE ID" yea a good one costs less than $20 to make, this day and age its the barcodes and shit that have to be registered which is, like anything else with patience and determination, possible. for the last time im going to reiterate, I was a 16yo run away. learned everything I could from anyone and everywhere I could. went to school. stable now, if it weren't for just a couple of these "frowned upon" tricks tips and trade of the world. id be in a pretty shitty place right now.my number one vow and one ill never break. First, Do Harm to None. now if this forum allows emails im a douce and need to retype, any questions or comments. feel free, xxloverboiixx1@gmail.com , if they're anything but inquisitive or positive, they will be added to more spam lists than you though was possible with ur "junk mail" blockers and nice-idea buttons.
Happy Holidays Everyone. If I get my wish I'll be moving to Goa ASAP for the remainder of my days and freelance remotely.
also, for everyones safety, these aren't my words, don't condone their insinuation, but when everyones worried about technological this and techno that, you realize peroxide fertilizer is getting extremely easy to find in the middle of us countries, not that u can call someone using that now can u
[ link to this | view in chronology ]