Compliance Toolkit
Story: ID cards bill savaged by Lords and MPs
Posted by: Anonymous (Tuesday 25 October 2005, 6:13 PM)
The real argument isn't all the biometrics and information, (that can be changed along the way) but WHO has access to the database. It should be a closed system, not linked to the internet, and under no circumstances be accessible by commercial organisations(unlike the electoral register). On this point I agree with most of the opposers, I don't want this proposed database to be given to anyone I haven't been told about.
However
For all the "big brother" conspiracy theorists out there.
CCTV caught the failed London terrorists, as well as many violent crime offenders. It will also HELP someone prove they are innocent of an alleged offence if they can prove they weren't there. As will being "tracked" by the use of credit cards/ID etc. I have always lived in city centres, I love CCTV! Look at how many fake number plates have shown up on the congestion charge system.
ID theft is up massively and you can get a fake passport for about £600< £1000 depending on how good it is. Do you really want to get on a plane knowing that some of the people travelling may not be who their passport says they are? I don't. ID cards can't promise 100% security, but it will make it a lot harder to travel under false ID.
I'm sure you don't want the Govt. to know all this information about you, but the reality today is that the criminally minded have access to masses of technology to fake ID, credit cards etc. In order to stay ahead of them it becomes a technology arms race, driven by economics. If it is too expensive/difficult to fake something, they won't bother untill it becomes cheap enough, then you have to move the goal posts again. Groups that have access to huge funds and corrupt govt. officials will be the first to circumvent any system, a reality of life. So no, it probably won't stop Al Quaeda. But it will mess it up for a large proportion of the criminal world, who of course will do everything possible to avoid ever getting an ID card in the first place! Why making it voluntary won't ever work.
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