A new bill [PDF] "To require owners of Internet websites to destroy obsolete data containing personal information," is aimed at preventing web sites and search engines from storing your personal information longer than necessary. News.com is running a story about it.

The Guardian reports that biometric ID cards are coming to the UK:

Millions of British citizens will be compulsorily required to hold an identity card and see their biometric details placed on a central database after the government last night fended off a backbench rebellion designed to derail the plan. Anyone applying for passports or immigration documents will in two years time be required to apply for an ID card.

The cards will store 49 types of information, including fingerprints and other biometric information. It is expected that the cards will eventually become compulsory, with a punishment of a £2,500 (US $4,350) fine for not registering.

A company in Ohio has just made it mandory for some of their employees to have RFID tags implanted under their skin. The identification "chips" are implanted in the upper arm. The chips are not required for employment, but are required for certain jobs, specifically accessing their data center. Ironically RFID tags can be cloned, allowing hackers to bypass the security. The age of RFID tags is coming. More about RFID coming soon.

In an article titled Google Copies Your Hard Drive - Government Smiles in Anticipation, the Electronic Frontier Foundation discusses some of the privacy issues related to the ability of the new Google Desktop software to remove data from your computer and store it on Google’s servers. The article also provides links to further reading about the subject.

In some places, cell phones are being used to track vehicle movements. The technology is there, and the government has found a way to use it for your benefit.

ZDNET has published a story about companies that use cell phones to track the movements of their employees. The use of cell phones to track people is rapidly growing.

It is possible to protect yourself against Sony’s spyware by attaching a small piece of tape to your CD.

Microsoft’s Really Hidden Files

Information about the secret files on your Windows computer, and how to find them.