In a message dated 05/07/2002 09:27:58 GMT Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] 
writes:

<< I hope I'm not going to regret asking this, and I've definitely got
 that Friday feeling.... but I'm genuinely puzzled.  Why is the
 introduction of a national ID card considered an infringement of civil
 liberties?  I understand the dangers of such a system being extended
 beyond its orginal stated purpose, but what is the problem simply with
 an ID card?  Especially if it supersedes the current need to have
 multiple forms of ID for different purposes.
 
 I personally think that being able to prove who I am so that my
 identity is not stolen by someone else is a civil liberty in its own
 right.  How is that going to be infiringed by a national ID card?? >>
-------------
There are several reasons, based on the knowledge that the card will not 
exist in a "simple" form, it will definitely have a full database structure 
behind it:

1) As a private individual, I can choose what name I want to be known by for 
different purposes, so long as they are not fraudulent or otherwise illegal 
purposes.  For example, to identify those companies obtaining my details for 
junk mailing without offering an opt-out, I usually change my middle initial 
and wait for the mailings to arrive with the wrong name - they have breached 
the first principle;

2) As an individual, I can choose (within reason) which form of identity to 
use for any particular purpose - I may not use my driving licence if I get 
points on it because the retailer (or whatever) does not need to know this;

3) Although the card will not be required to be carried, pretty soon you will 
not be able to get anything without it and your rights will be reduced as a 
result - you have your old style credit cards on you but the retailer will 
not give credit without the ID card which you left at home;

4) The agglomeration of the data held by the card administrator (probably a 
commercial company) will be used for other purposes without your consent (and 
knowledge) if the proposals are accepted - your right to know how the data 
are used (first DPA principle) will disappear, you lose control, they keep it 
forever (5th), they decide what is essential data (3rd);

5) The card itself, if everyone must have one by law, must be *required* for 
some purposes - such as benefits claims - therefore it creates a second tier 
of society.  Not really a problem for most people but if you've ever queued 
up for free school meals you'll understand what I mean;

6) You will never know for sure what data are held on the databases 
accessible via this ID card, nor will you know what data will be held on the 
chip, nor will you know which agencies can read which bits of the chip.  For 
example, some smart cards accumulate data such as what children buy for 
school meals, ostensibly for "loyalty points" then parents demand access to 
that information for other purposes;

7) The proposal is that it need not be produced "on demand" by the 
authorities but this means they can demand you produce it within a certain 
period.  Obviously no different to bringing your licence and insurance 
documents to the police station after a minor offence, but you'll still need 
those documents as well.  The problem is that it starts off as a voluntary 
card, yet it becomes compulsory by stealth;

8) If mistakes are made in the databases, it will be more difficult to have 
them corrected - you will not be believed over the "official" versions of the 
data.  Ask the people who have CCJs, PNC and NINO errors that have caused 
them real problems;

9) The £3bn+ cost will have to be found from somewhere - public funds or 
charging the "volunteers" who are not on benefits - either way, money for 
nothing;

10) And I'll stop here for fear of boring everyone to death - ID cards won't 
work if the aims are purely to eliminate benefit fraud, terrorism and 
identity theft.  Countries that already have ID cards still have all these 
problems, in most cases their problems are greater than ours.  And we do 
pride ourselves on being a free society - our parents and grandparents remind 
us on a regular basis why they fought the wars on our behalf, mainly to 
maintain those freedoms.

Ian (all the above are personal views)

PS Okay, shoot!


Ian Buckland
Managing Director
Keep IT Legal Ltd

Tel: 01246 473999 
Fax: 01246 470742
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Website: www.keepitlegal.co.uk

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