By Jo Best, 20 May 2004 15:15
NEWS Whether you're happy to carry an ID card or terrified at the prospect, no one can deny that the introduction of the cards will be a massive challenge for the government - and the IT companies it picks to get the deployment underway.
Speaking at a public debate on the subject, key politicians and figures from the public and private sectors revealed their concerns on the issue - and it's not the rationale behind the rollout that worries them most; it's the database behind it all.
While civil libertarians and the Home Secretary's supporters have debated the rights and wrongs of expecting every man and woman in the UK to carry a card and pay anywhere up to £75 for the privilege, it seems everyone's chewing their fingernails over the tech.
The card's just a piece of plastic in your wallet - the register of all your data is much more of an issue, according to David Davis, shadow Home Secretary.
"The issue is not about a card. We carry any number of cards," he said, "The database is the real challenge to civil liberties." The motives for Blunkett's crusade aside, the government's record on success with big IT projects is less than exemplary, he added.
David Cameron MP took a similar stance: "The more you want to put in it and the more different agencies that rely on it will make it more useful." But that would also mean that any breakdown would be critical, he said.
So, who can take a look at your data? And why? Certain government officials have the right to view it without having to present any justification - the head of the intelligence services, for example, and GCHQ.
Peter Williamson, president of the Law Society, described the access protocols for the database as "going far beyond" what the Society considers necessary and the policy of disclosure as "extremely wide...it does not inspire confidence".
Some medical staff such as doctors and nurses - with the exception of A&E - will be using the card on an everyday basis, as they're expected to check biometrics before they can offer medical care. That means there will be an iris scanner in all hospitals, outpatient clinics and GP surgeries across England.
Staff will need to be trained in using the tech, told the protocol for applying it and make sure the right security measures are in place. Fine. But where will the funding come from?
No one is quite sure. It's not in Blunkett's oft-discussed £3bn figure for the rollout. And the NHS isn't well known for its deep pockets.
There's also the problem that will get any good sysadmin waxing lyrical about the ignorance of the average user - giving out the password, or, in this case, your ID registration number.
As a recent survey showed, users are notoriously lax with their passwords. Why should we think that the average person will be any different with their ID card registration number?
And, as sysadmins will tell you, once the base level of security is breached, the whole system is insecure.
Comments
There are 12 comments. Join the discussion
1. Bill Citrine
We need to know what data the government wants to collect/access via these cards. This has been the issue all along. They just will not tell us. This article is worrying as it's contributers already assume this data will include more than simply proof of identity. The pooling/linking together of existing data into one big database is a recipe for disaster. Even if there's to be different levels of access on a 'need to know' basis the idea of one little card being the main key is pretty scary.
I'm against these cards if data collection is one of the objectives. If we must have them let's hope they are 'only' ID cards - simple, minimum proof of identity and nothing else... but how they'll combat terrorism and illegal immigration defeats me!
2. anonymous
The first person denied treatment and turned away from an NHS hospital because they cannot be identified will incite riots that will make the poll tax protests look like a sunday school outing.
I'm no longer worried, the government couldn't manage an IT project in a brewery, this will be no exception.
3. anonymous
Don’t worry on the basis of past government IT implementations the system will takes years to implement, the database will not integrate with any of the systems it was supposed to and when anyone tries to query the data the whole system will freeze for 30 minutes. But that’s what you get these days for a millions of pounds of tax payers money when spent on government IT projects.
4. Philip
The Passport office manages to "loose" over 5000 Passports a year, well they don't just disappear someone has them. There are also 1 million more NI numbers in use than people in the UK! Both these are suppossed to be unique. There is no chance that an id card will work, as usual law abiding citizens will suffer and criminals will get away with it. For example guns are illegal but the rise in gun crime demonstrates that they can still be obtained. I can't beleive criminals won't be able to obtain false id cards!
5. Ken Hall
Data collection and pooling are only a small part of what these cards are about. Personality profiling and entitlements based upon perceptions of others, your financial transaction trails and political, religious and cultural beliefs are what these cards are about. you will be tracked and monitored 24/7.
The powers that be will only be able to do that if you give them the control, by accepting the card. without the control mechanisms in place, they cannot do this. Once they are in place, any future Government can control or restrict our lives in any way they please.
Take the card, loose control.
6. anonymous
It's obvious from the start that the database is the thing that the government wants. The card is just an excuse to implement it. The supporters of id cards seem to argue that if your on the right side of the law and have nothing to hide id cards won't affect you. I think totally the opposite is true. Criminals /terrorists will either have forged or stolen card or just not bother. For the rest of us who toe the line. We'll end up paying for a system that doesn't protect us and invades our privacy. Whatever your views on the intentions of the government in bringing in the system. There'll be numerous govenment agencies with their own agenda's having access to it.
7. Lesley Payne
The general principle that services should be available only to those that are entitled is not a contentious issue. However past history shows us that information gained for one purpose ends up being used for many others for which there has been no discussion or agreement. I have no faith in the ability of the government to protect my interests by restricting the access to my details.
It will come back to haunt us.
8. anonymous
I am against the whole idea. The ID Card project will be late, overbudget, and will fail to work (as per all government projects).
The data stored will be used and abused.
Assuming it goes ahead and runs smoothly (that's a BIG if ...), what will happen when the database fails? The whole country will come to a standstill because nobody's identity can be checked.
I think sod's law applies here: If something can go wrong, it will !!
9. David Parsons
I am glad that Silicon.com & other's are now focusing on the Who, what & why aspects of I.D cards.
Who...................................has a right to view your details?
What....do they need the access for?
Why.... do they need to view information on you?
It would not seem unreasonable for an individual to know who is accessing the various bits of info about them
I turn around the argument offered by many pro carders..... If our Government & Un-elected civil servants have nothing to hide etc.
I'm still worried.... men in black coats abound..... who is the enemy?
Will the information about us ever be secure…. Just seems it’s asking for trouble to me. There are some very clever people out there ready to exploit and what an opportunity for them to get their hands on some top notch info.
You don’t need a Plumber to know which way the leaks blow
(Sorry to Bob Dylan)
10. Peter G.Bellamy
We had ID cards when I was in the RAF back in the 1950s which worked simply as an ID card. Of course, anyone could have got their hands on one and altered it but as a simple but unreliable method of indentifying a service member it sort of worked.
In WW2, forged work ID documents was a cottage industry.
In Japan, after WW2, the US goevernment running Japan persuaded the Japanese to force all Korean and Chinese living there to have an "Alien" card. Nowadays, under Japanese law, all "Aliens" living in Japan are forced to carry "alien" cards and be fingerprinted BUT no Japanese has to carry any proof of identity. None of this has stopped aliens from being criminals or made it easier to catch any criminals, let alone foreign ones! It didn't help Japan to catch an Al Quaida suspect who travelled in and out of Japan happily until he was caught in Germany.
BUT, the most dangerous aspect is the intent to control the population by using the ID card as a club to force all to have one or be denied all kinds of services to which they are entitled.
What happens and it will, when the data base is cracked and altered by persons wishing to illegally claim or change information for their own personal benefit.
Quis custodiet, ipsos custodes.
And who will guarantee those in charge of the data base have not been corrupted or bribed to insert altered details.
Illegal immigration is NOT a major factor in everyone's lives today and will never be the problem the current government is claiming it is.
The real danger is that whoever controls the "data" bases will, ipso facto, end up being the real masters and rulers of the country.
Welcome to 1984, a trifle late but here today.
11. Aaron Croft
Tony Blair had said several years running that he would never introduce ID cards because of the huge public opposition towards it. Now prior to the general election after the ID card bill had failed 5 times he said he would force it through onc ehe got back into power. This Nazi legislation will not prevent or stop crime and will most certainly not stop state sponsored terrorism. Now the USA and UK CIA/NSA/GCHQ made 911 happen - inside job we are in a perfect situation to submit further - to give up all our freedom and human rights.
12. joseph ralston
Seems most people care only about their teeth/hair/facelift or house value
I think it will end with "then they came for me".... TV has destroyed all sense of community.