There’s an article in the Guardian yesterday written by Michael Cross. In it, he makes a case for Identity Cards. Fair enough. However, he attempts to demolish the counter argument rather clumsily.
“The government’s ID card team this week made an important admission. They admitted that, much of the time, the new systems won’t work. It de-fangs a common argument against the scheme – that it was conceived in an IT consultant’s fantasy world, where citizens are obedient and technology always functions. (The opponents’ next logical leap, from “It’ll never work” to “It’ll create a totalitarian state” is beyond the intellectual scope of this column.)”
If that is so, then Mr Cross is not particularly intelligent. There is no paradox. An imperfect scheme is perfectly capable of being used in an oppressive manner. It isn’t difficult to make that leap – indeed, it is merely a small step in logic. But then, Mr Cross is looking at this from the perspective of the IT industry that hopes to make a killing. Whether it works or not is largely irrelevant; they will make their money regardless. Therefore, Mr Cross wants this shabby invasion of our privacy to go ahead; there’s mulah to be made. This article is simply a warning to keep off his patch – ID refusniks are a threat to him and his ilk. Too bad, he’ll just have to get used to it as I’ve no plans to sacrifice my liberties so that the IT industry can make a few bucks.
He finishes the article by asking the following question:
“Opponents will say that conceding the fallibility of biometrics in day-to-day life removes the card’s big selling point, so the whole programme should be scrapped. The question to throw back at them is, if the card could be shown to work perfectly, would they accept it?”
No. Next!
The article also says:
“The pair also dismissed claims that to function, the scheme will need a massive network of biometric readers. In practice, biometric matching will be the exception, used for example when applying for a job. In day-to-day transactions, such as renting a car, we will identify ourselves with a pin – the card will be compatible with retail chip and pin readers.”
Renting a car ? What is wrong with the credit card (your own or a corporate one) and the driving licence, which is all that is required to rent car at the moment ?
What possible advantage is there to either the customer or the car rental company in having the extra bureaucracy of a National ID Card, with or without biometrics ?
The Home Office fantasy of a combined ID Card and Driving Licence seems to have been dropped some time ago.
However, every employer is going to have to have access to a secure Biometric Reader connected via a secure network (not the internet).
There is no point having a job applicant produce a paper certificate purporting to show that their ID Card, and “right to work in the UK status”, has been biometrically checked at, say , the local Job Centre – such paper letters will be easily forged, just like National Insurance Number plastic cards are right now.
Michael Cross always seems to write from the IT industry’s vested commercial interest point of view.