By Steve Ranger, 20 February 2008 11:55
COMMENT
Given the choice, I always prefer conspiracy to cock-up if possible, even though - after reporting on the IT industry for so long - I know cock-up should be the default setting, especially when it come to government projects.
Still, I couldn't resist the BBC's new politico-techno-conspiracy thriller - The Last Enemy - featuring ID cards, pervasive CCTV surveillance and gigantic databases. All things which silicon.com has taken plenty of interest in over the past few years.
The action takes place in a UK where ID cards and biometrics have become a standard method of verifying identity.
ID cards in particular are used for all sorts of routine interactions, like opening the doors to an apartment building, and are routinely checked by mean-looking police (albeit ones equipped with rather cheap-looking card readers, I thought).
And at the heart of the story, at least thus far, is a mathematician working on the Total Information Awareness project. This is a giant government system that seems able to search TV news, automatic number-plate recognition, Afghan minefield maps and a host of other databases and display it all faster than it takes my laptop to open an email. And with an irritating voice interface to boot.
The BBC publicity for the series describes it as "predictive, rather than science fiction", a look at how misused technology can threaten human relationships and destroy trust. So far it seems like an entertaining but not especially believable attempt at tackling an interesting subject.
There was even an amusing scene where civil service types got to debate whether the government was any good at tech projects - perhaps not but the private sector is, apparently, was the conclusion.
It's great that primetime TV wants to tackle subjects such as ID cards, biometrics and surveillance. These are often seen as dry and complex to the general public. But in fact as much debate as possible about the introduction and implications of these developments is vital.
Connecting up these technologies - let alone in real-time - is still way into the future but we need to think about the issues now.
How far-fetched is it? Well, ID cards and biometrics are well on their way. Perhaps the most unlikely element so far is the idea of the government finishing such a major project without it running a fair few billion over budget and a couple of years late - or just getting scrapped.
That really does take us into the realms of science fictionÂ…
Comments
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1. Richard
Lacks the "punch" & focus of "Cathy Come Home":
After seeing the first episode, I suspect that both supporter of ID cards etc. and opposers will take comfort from this BBC series;
eg. Without privileged (illegal??) access to the TIA, how would the "hero" find his "girl-friend"?
Later, I expect that much will appear simply as a fancy pseudo-tech. background to the "real story" ie. the "human interest" story.
Perhaps the BBC was not brave enough to make a public policy changing polemic with the power of "Cathy Come Home"?
(ps. That TV film changed the UK's housing policy.)
2. Roger Huffadine
With 'cock up' being the prevailing method for screwing up government - we need not worry.
The government's policy of dumbing down all levels of education will ensure that any ID scheme will self destruct before it can be completed.
Soon you will be able to put French, German, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin and maybe English on your CV without being able to speak a word.
3. Chris Stevens
"Sorry about the delay it takes a while to recognise the biometric passport chip". This was a comment made to me at Heathrow last week by the immigration officer as she held my UK passport to the scanner.
Sounds like this technology is really well sorted! What an advance.
4. Radical Meldrew
I can easily imagine a very sad but plausible future where everyone gets the three 'c' treatment. Check, chip & catalogue. Government failures to properly secure stored information has proved to be monumentally disastrous. Someone has breached their ID database and changed individual’s core details and the innocent victims are now being accused of impersonating themselves? Unlikely today, yes, but considering where we are heading……?