A reported dark-web service offering more than 153 million U.S. and Canadian driver’s-license scans for sale has brought the hidden cost of identity verification into focus. Tom, Scott, and Kevin discuss the alleged breach and FBI inquiry, why a license is a durable credential that people cannot simply rotate, and how ID scanners, vendors, and downstream data sharing turn routine checks into a supply-chain risk. They explore real-time identity-document capture, the limits of encryption and retention promises, and privacy-preserving design principles including data minimization, scoped proof, limited sharing, local storage where feasible, and meaningful accountability.
** Links mentioned on the show **
Gizmodo — Identity Verification Is Broken
https://gizmodo.com/identity-verification-is-broken-the-153-million-drivers-licenses-now-for-sale-are-proof-2000806437
KrebsOnSecurity — FBI Probes Service Selling 153M+ Drivers Licenses
https://krebsonsecurity.com/2026/09/fbi-probes-service-selling-153m-drivers-licenses/
Reuters — FBI probes report of data breach exposing millions of drivers’ licenses
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fbi-says-it-is-investigating-report-that-millions-us-drivers-licenses-exposed-2026-09-02/
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