Smith has called for a drastic change in the privacy versus security debate in America because the current discussion focuses too often on generic risks and fears and not enough on specific, identifiable risks.  “The United States faces serious new risks from people who do not hesitate to use technology against us,” he said.  “Americans must agree on the best ways to use technology to combat terrorists and criminals, because it is possible to make our nation more secure while protecting civil liberties.”  Smith is the author of two books on the topic, “The Risk Revolution: Threats Facing America & Technology’s Promise for a Safer Tomorrow” and “A Survival Guide in the Information Age.”

Government agencies rely on ChoicePoint to help complete their most difficult tasks - using ChoicePoint’s DNA laboratory to identify victims of the World Trade Center attacks; using data to help the Maryland State Police identify and locate the D.C. snipers; and conducting background checks on nearly 100,000 applicants in less than six months for airport security screeners for the Transportation Security Administration.