[Reader-list] UK to Kill off National ID Card Program

[Taha Mehmood]

Dear All,

If technology is supposed to be the sole provider of services then
why, WHY did UK government plans to cancel its National ID Program? Is
the UK government 'anti technology'? Can it not give services to its
citizens without this number?

And if it needs conservative government to conclusion to put a stop on
wastage of this huge amount of money, then my vote is for BJP provided
they shed their stupid communal agenda and start playing a role of a
mature opposition.

Gadhkari are you listening?

And someone must please request Mr. Nandan Nilekani to read this: 'The
parties have also agreed to scrap the National Identity Register, a
computer system storing information from biometric passports and ID
cards under development by the U.K.'s Identity and Passport Service
and Border Agency. They will also cancel the "next generation of
biometric passports" and the Contact Point database, which stores
information on minors under 18.'

Warm regards

Taha


http://www.pcworld.com/article/196299/uk_to_kill_off_national_id_card_program.html

The U.K.'s new coalition government plans to cancel the national ID
card program, calling it part of a "substantial erosion of civil
liberties" that took place under the former Labour government.

Following an election last week where no party gained a majority in
Parliament, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats allied to form a
new government with David Cameron as prime minister.

The parties have also agreed to scrap the National Identity Register,
a computer system storing information from biometric passports and ID
cards under development by the U.K.'s Identity and Passport Service
and Border Agency.

They will also cancel the "next generation of biometric passports" and
the Contact Point database, which stores information on minors under
18.

Labour's ID card project was the subject of frequent criticism as
privacy activists saw the program as overly expensive, fraught with
security risks and a violation of personal liberties. Labour contended
the program would allow for tighter control over immigration and help
fight crime and terrorism.

The program launched in November 2008, with the Border Agency issuing
ID cards to foreign nationals who came to the U.K. to work or study.
Starting this year, people could voluntarily receive the card. The
former government had also planned to issue the ID when people renewed
their passport. The new passports would contain biometric information.

Soon the program will be frozen. A spokesman for the Home Office said
on Friday more detail on how the programs would proceed would be
available within two weeks.

The Home Office's Identity and Passport Service said on its Web site
that "applications can continue to be made for ID cards but we would
advise anyone thinking of applying to wait for further announcements."

"Until Parliament agrees otherwise, identity cards remain valid and as
such can still be used as an identity document and for travel within
Europe," the agency said.

One way to cancel the program would be to repeal the Identity Cards
Act, passed in 2006, said Michael Parker, press officer for NO2ID,
which has campaigned against the program.

Despite an estimated cost in the billions of pounds, no substantial
contracts were ever awarded and little infrastructure built, Parker
said. However, the government did spend substantial sums on
consultants and promoting the plan to gain public support, he said.

"I suppose really we just remain hopeful that the coalition will
continue to look not just at identity cards and schemes that back it
but the wider tranche of deeply invasive and problematic schemes that
the government has brought up in the last 10 years," Parker said.