UK ID Cards - for or against?

[Tabris]

I don't think there is enough information that I've seen to give a basis for an opinion. I'm not in favour of paying upwards of £25 for a card though.

I can see the biometrics helping preventing identity fraud which is a good point, but I'm still not sure about the whole idea of having all (or most) of my personal information stored on a card.

Plus, if I'm still 17 at the time these would be fully implemented, that'd mean that the chance of me continuing on my days illegal clubbing would be over .

[TheAnimus]

i know this is still part of the thread revival, but did anyone watch the episode of absolute power a few weeks ago on BBC2?

2x01 - The Nation s Favourite

awsome relivent comedy

[Kumagoro]

we should all have chips implanted in us like dogs do. well whats the difference between
that and a card.

i think its a massive waste of time and money.

[malfunction]

we should all have chips implanted in us like dogs do. well whats the difference between
that and a card.

i think its a massive waste of time and money.

Indeed - as has been said here and elsewhere - it's going to be a massive waste of time and money just as all (at least UK) governments IT projects are... And at the end of the day when even the police force have said that they have no problem identifying a person where is the need for this? Just more moth to the the flame BS after the current events.

[mjhants]

Is this going to simplify things? Today we have a host of numbers issued by the government - Passport number, national insurance number, National Health number, inland revenue number, birth certifacte number etc. If this card was a convergence path for all these then perhaps it would be of value and save money in the long term. t.

[Daneel]

Against.

Every report I've seen on ID card introduction in other countries has done nothing to reduce crime. The cost of the cards is going to be very high, the government has admitted it overstated the benefits and the technology doesn't work very well!

[playz28]

Dont mind carrying around an extra piece of id, But what about the costs of implementing
the id system?

[Marcos]

I find it strange that the UK has taken this long to get ID cards, I've always had one, since i'm portuguese. Just seems a bit daft that not only are they decades late to implement this, but its also costing a ridiculous amount of money.

But i think its ultimately for the best

[Taz]

Well, while I agree it's some fairly random bumpage- now is a good time for it. Apparently from October the passport agency want to start issuing passports with intrusive tracking chips on them, so if you want at least ten years exemption from Big Brother watching you get a new one SOON!

http://www.pledgebank.com/passport

I sure as hell will be.

How early can we get a new passport? My current one expires in August 2006. I don't trust this government.

[TheAnimus]

as early as you want Taz, you have to pay for it after all.

[Rave]

How early can we get a new passport? My current one expires in August 2006. I don't trust this government.

You can get one any time you like. My current one is only four years old but I'm still going to get a new one- must get my act together in fact, I'll go and get the forms at lunchtime.

[Stoo]

Luckily as a Canadian citizen I can apply for a Canadian passport any time I like, and ignore the UK one

[eloquence]

The concept of each person having an ID card I don't have a problem with. It would be easier to rely on one form of ID rather than utilities bills, etc, etc. However, the cost looks immense, and introducing a highly expensive system that will become compulsory (in effect, if not law) is where I have an objection. I pay enough already to have a passport for identification purposes, so having to pay again for a different ID is objectionable.

[Konan555]

Not gonna have time to read this whole thread.

Suffice to say, if I'm forced to carry ID at any point I'll just leave the country.

[Rave]

Sod that- I'm a Briton, this is my country, I'm not going to leave just because some totalitarian government has decided that I'm answerable to them.

[dangel]

It's a bit like making the roads metric There's a bunch of people who think - "ohhhh the rest of europe has kilometres on their signs and we have miles, so let's change it".... and then forget the cost will be incredible for no measurable gain.