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DPP seeking to halt controversial fingerprint proposal

The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) legislative caucus yesterday filed an application with the Judicial Yuan for a constitutional interpretation on the government's controversial policy of collecting fingerprints for the new national identification cards. Collection of fingerprints for the new cards is slated to begin on July 1.

The Council of Grand Justices could issue a temporary injunction against the law regulating the new policy.

According to Article 8 of the Household Registration Law (戶籍法), as of July 1, all citizens over the age of 14 must submit a full set of fingerprints when applying for an ID card. The new obligation has been marred by controversy since it was proposed. The DPP argues that the law violates privacy rights, and that the Council of Grand Justices should issue a temporary injunction on the law and rule it is inapplicable.

DPP caucus whip Chen Chin-jun (陳景峻) yesterday said that many people have expressed doubt about the fingerprint regulations because they think fingerprints and would not be helpful in catching criminals, as the Ministry of Interior has claimed.

"Given that July 1 is coming soon, we hope the Council of Grand Justices will consider our application for a constitutional interpretation [on the law] as an extra-urgent case before the provision comes into effect," Chen said.

Thus far the DPP has filed three applications for a constitutional interpretation on a host of laws, including Article 8 of the Household Registration Law, the Statute Governing the Operation of the National Assembly (國大職權行使法) and the pan-blue camp's habitual boycotts of bills in the legislature, including the arms procurement bill.
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