Gov. Wants State-Held Private Data More Secure
A day after the attorney general criticized the state's efforts at preventing identity theft, Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Thursday proposed a series of measures -- including facial recognition technology on driver's licenses -- that he said would make state-held private data more secure.
The governor said his proposals had long been planned and weren't a response to Wednesday's criticisms by Attorney General Mike Hatch -- who also happens to be the Democratic favorite to run against him in November. But Pawlenty and Hatch sniped at each other extensively in dueling media briefings, both claiming they'd do more to prevent identity theft.
"Identity theft causes great trauma, damage and cost to families," Pawlenty said. "There's more Minnesota can do to strengthen safeguards on personal information and to crack down on identity thieves."
