Nothing to fear over ID cards privacy, says passport chief

The man in charge of the government's national ID cards scheme has dismissed claims the cards will lead to a personal audit trail of each citizen's movements and transactions.

Privacy groups have claimed records of each time an ID card is used, where and what it is used for will create a vast personal tracking database of every individual on the National Identity Register.

But James Hall, CEO of the Identity and Passport Service (IPS), said in an online webchat on the Downing Street website that most uses of the ID card will probably not involve accessing the NIR and would therefore not create an audit trail.

He said: "I sort of feel 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' with this. The audit trail is an important protection so that citizens can see who has accessed their record and when. But on the other hand, I understand there is also a concern that it could be used to infer something about a pattern of activities.

"However, the Identity Cards Act forbids the provision of the audit log to private sector organisations and it could only be seen by the police or security services in the case of serious crimes."

All about ID

Learn about every aspect of the UK's national ID cards scheme in our A to Z guide.

Hall admitted criminals and fraudsters will target ID cards but said the technology being used will make it harder for them to fake and forge documents.

He said: "The unique aspect of the biometric identifier will be a very important step in preventing criminals obtaining multiple documents under different identities."

A YouGov survey last year showed that 12 per cent of Brits would refuse to get an ID card even if it meant paying a fine or going to prison but Hall said people will voluntarily enrol for ID cards because it will make their day-to-day life easier, when it comes to things like opening a bank account.

He said: "My own view is that ID cards will have to prove themselves by their utility, rather than people being forced to have them. The scheme will be successful if individuals believe it is useful to them to have an ID card in their wallet beside their credit cards, rather than because it is a state requirement."

The IPS is also looking at providing an online mechanism for people to check their entry and data held on the NIR for any inaccuracies but is still assessing whether that can be done securely. Once people have registered their details and biometrics on the NIR they will not be removed - only inaccuracies in the data will be corrected.

Former Home Secretary Charles Clarke also came out fighting for ID cards in a Channel 4 documentary - Fighting Identity Fraud - at the weekend, claiming they will improve the quality of people's lives and enhance security.

Clarke's pro-ID cards view has been shaped in part by the experience of his wife's Estonian grandfather, who was arrested and killed by the KGB in 1941.

He said: "Opponents of ID cards like to talk in extravagant language of a police state run by fascists and so on. I believe passionately that, properly handled, identity data improves the quality of our lives, protects our liberty and enhances our security, and that belief has been shaped at least in part by the experiences of my wife's family, who know what it is to suffer at the hands of the state."

The first ID cards are due to be issued in 2009.