| Do
UK citizens need ID Cards? |
| Posted: November 13th, 2003 |
| By:
Colin Coates |
 |
Almost all countries in the
European Union use them as do Americans, but here in the UK there
hasn't been any use for them until now, so says the Home Secretary
David Blunkett, who has outlined plans to make ID Cards compulsory
for all UK citizens by the year 2013. Are ID cards a necessity or
a waste of our money? |
Most of us already have several different forms
of identification, such as a Birth Certificate, National Insurance
number, Driving Licence and Passport, so why on earth do we need another
form of ID you might be asking yourself.
Many of us can't answer that question but the Home Secretary David
Blunkett can. He said the introduction of compulsory ID cards is vital
for fighting benefit fraud, immigration abuse and the bit 'T'
word terrorism.
In his own words he said: "Minimal internal controls and strong
borders" were no longer enough."
"An ID card is not a luxury or a whim - it is a necessity."
However, those opposed to the scheme have labelled it as just another
back-door conduit to further the governments plans to fully accomplish
their radical and highly controversial snooping charter.
Are the government's new snooping laws
flawed?
IN THE FORUMS
"I
personally have no problems with I.D cards the government will
spy on you anyway at least this way its in the open."
plonsdale
JOIN
THE DISCUSSION |
But the Home Secretary dismissed the sceptics saying:
"I know some people believe there is a sinister motive behind the
cards; that they will be part of a Big Brother state.
"This is wrong - only basic information will be held on the ID card
database - such as your name, address, birthday and sex.
"It will not have details of religion, political beliefs, marital
status or your health records."
With that he has gone ahead and introduced plans to rollout ID cards
to the UK's 60m population by 2013, which will also be connected to
a National Identity Register holding biometric data such as eye recognition
and fingerprints.
The scheme is also estimated to cost around £3b with the vast majority
of the cost having to come out of our own pockets. A new card will
cost us around £35 each and new biometric passports will cost around
£77 instead of the current price of £42.
From 2007 passports and driving licences
will contain biometric data and by 2013 the Home Secretary is hoping
that 80% of the population will be registered on the database and
the issuing of separate ID cards should be completed.
The carrying of ID cards will not be compulsory but through the use
of technology the police and other authorities will be able to scan
our fingerprints or eye to identify who we are.
Under the plans people wanting to use the NHS, claim benefits or get
a job would have to produce a valid card.
This is all just a step too far for many citizens and civil liberties
groups who are calling for the scheme to be scrapped.
Some people are even going so far as to prophesise a future that will
see citizens implanted with microchips. A bit far-fetched perhaps
but not an entirely baseless prediction considering the technology
exists and the will of governments to keep tabs on their citizens
continues to grow more and more in this security conscious world we
live in. |
| Shopping
& Web Links |
 Search
The Web
For sites about:
ID Cards |
 Search
Amamazon.co.uk
For books about: ID
Cards |
|
|
