Hacker group threatens to release Merkel's fingerprints

BEIJING,April 1 (Xinhuanet) -- The Chaos
Computer Club (CCC), one of Germany's oldest and largest hacker organisations,
threatened to publish Chancellor Angela Merkel's fingerprints as part of a
campaign against the government's use of biometric data in new passports, media
reported Tuesday.

German passports issued since November 2007 contain a
biometric chip with a copy of the holder's fingerprints that can be verified by
immigration authorities.

The CCC argues that fingerprints are a poor choice
for identification documents because they are easy to collect, and also to
reproduce -- the group's website contains a 12-step guide for how to create a
fake set of fingerprints.

"The main point we want to illustrate here is that
biometric fingerprints don't offer any security, they just enhance the
surveillance of citizens," said CCC spokesman Frank Rieger.

The CCC on Saturday published Interior Minister
Wolfgang Schaeuble's fingerprints in its own magazine.

Schaeubele's prints were taken from a water glass he
used at a public debate, said CCC spokesman Frank Rieger, who predicted it would
be easy for the group's supporters to collect similar samples from other public
figures, including Merkel, who support the increased use of biometric data.

(Agencies)