THE 'ENTITLEMENT CARD' TROJAN HORSE
What could be more innocuous than a free bus pass?When David Blunkett first floated the idea of ID cards back in 2003, he did so under cover of the name 'entitlement cards'. People saw through the spin and the government was forced to call them what they really are.
Four years on, we're seeing a re-emergence of the 'entitlement' concept as the Department for Transport expands its "National Concessionary Travel Scheme". Already running in Scotland and parts of Wales, this RFID smartcard-based scheme has several characteristics that are of concern:
- - the unique numbering of older and disabled people, and some children
- - significantly expanded collection and collation of personal information
- - a clear intention to share data across local and central government
Of course, a local authority-issued entitlement card could in time be made a 'designated document' - which means compulsory entry onto the national ID database.
It's not too late to kick up a fuss. Write to YOUR councillor and local authority - use http://www.writetothem.com - demanding that free and reduced-fare travel not be used as a Trojan Horse for central government data-sharing and ID agendas. There's no need for a local authority to withdraw entirely from the scheme, but it should *contractually* commit to using the cards for the single purpose of concessionary travel.
A government-issued database-linked smartcard of undefined purpose, tracking you and providing personal information to agencies and persons unknown is an ID card in all but name.
--
With thanks to John Welford. To read more about the Scottish experience, download a copy of John's 12 page report (Adobe PDF format, 548KB) here: http://www.jwelford.demon.co.uk/snec/report.pdf
What's next?
Taking Liberties out on DVD October 15th
On Monday the UK documentary 'Taking Liberties' will be released on DVD. The DVD has over two hours of material that didn't make it into the cinema release including: Making of Taking Liberties featurette, Original promo, Theatrical Trailer, Director’s commentary, extended interviews with Rachel North, Mark Thomas, Joanna Lumley, Boris Johnson, Shami Chakrabarti, Henry Porter, Andrew Gilligan, Lord Carlisle and many more, additional and extended footage of action at demonstrations and John Reid and his ASBO. NO2ID features in the film and are plugged at the end as a group to join to help claw back our liberties. Also available is a book of the same name that has a whole chapter on ID cards.See www.noliberties.com for more details
Local groups news
We now have groups in 36 of the 69 locations of ID interrogation centres (see www.no2id.net/getInvolved/idCentres.php). If you can help to set up a local group in one of the remaining towns then please contact us at (office@no2id.net). A full list of local groups can be found at www.no2id.net/localGroupsTaunton NO2ID needs your help
Our Taunton local group co-ordinator is stepping down. Anyone in the Taunton area interested in taking over this role should contact local.groups@not2id.netSaturdays 1pm - 3pm - NO2ID Edinburgh street stall
Every week, weather permitting, you will find our campaigning stall at the east end of Princes Street, opposite the Balmoral Hotel. Do drop by for a chat. New volunteers - please contact John (edinburgh@no2id.net), and for more group information see http://www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/Most Saturdays 2pm - NO2ID Glasgow Street Stall
Most Saturdays there are stalls in Glasgow city centre (usually Buchanan Street) from about 2pm. Volunteers are always welcome, please contact Geraint if you would like to help: glasgow@no2id.netPassport interrogations (Glasgow)
Glasgow NO2ID are keen to hear from anyone who has been summoned to attend the interrogation centre at Blythswood House after applying for their first passport. Please contact Geraint at glasgow@no2id.net or Charlie at myspace.com/no2idglasgowOctober - Proposed Liverpool NO2ID meeting
Liverpool NO2ID are currently scouting for venues to get something together for an evening meeting in October. If anybody can make the meeting, the objective will really be to throw ideas into the hat and discuss things. If people can't make the meeting, they can fire stuff over via email for the meeting to discuss. Contact liverpool@no2id for more information.13th October - NO2ID Cambridge Stall
Saturday, 13th October at 10am - Cambridge NO2ID'S next street stall will be in the usual spot outside Cambridge Guildhall. Location Map: http://tinyurl.com/eo42r. As ever, volunteers to help very welcome - please email cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Alex on 07811 917096 if you can make it.13th October - Manchester NO2ID Street Stall
Saturday, 13th October 1-3pm in St. Anne's Square. The main objectives of the afternoon will be to raise awareness among the public, engage people in discussion about the NIR, and collect petitions for the NO2ID petition to keep people in touch with the campaign. We'll meet in the square itself at 1pm to set up shop; feel free to join us to lend a hand or just chat. You don't need any experience or equipment, just a bit of time to spare and a friendly smile!17th October - Manchester NO2ID Meeting
Wednesday, 17th October 7-9pm in the upstairs function room of the Town Hall Tavern, Tib Lane, Manchester. Sadly, this venue is not wheelchair-accessible; please contact us if you have accessibility needs. At our monthly meetings we discuss the state of the NO2ID campaign, what we've been up to recently and where we're going in future. Everyone is welcome, newcomer or not, curious or committed. The Town Hall Tavern serves reasonably-priced, good quality food until 8pm so you don't need to pop home for tea - you can even order your meal brought up to the function room.18th October - Cardiff NO2ID Meeting
Thursday, 18th October 7pm at "A shot in the dark" (upstairs). This is in City Road (off Newport road, near queen street). Contact Solly Cardy on cardiff@no2id.net7th November - Cambridge NO2ID pub meeting
Wednesday, 7th November 7.30pm at the Free Press (pub), 7 Prospect Row, Cambridge CB1 1DU (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=cb1+1du). Cambridge NO2ID's informal pub meetings are on the first Wednesday of each month. For more details contact cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624.What just happened?
2nd IDABC eIDM Interoperability Workshop
On 12th September a workshop on the interoperability of European ID cards was held in Brussels. The workshop was described as: "in support of the i2010 eIDM Roadmap, the Workshop on 'Common Specifications for eIDM Interoperability' aimed to present and explain the inputs gathered and the work achieved towards the production of the draft 'Common Specification for eID Interoperability'". The electronic identity management (eIDM) roadmap states that: "In all EU Member States several initiatives are underway to introduce electronic identities (eID) for public services". The plan is to have common ID card specifications across Europe by 2010. The eID roadmap and workshop presentations can be downloaded at http://ec.europa.eu/idabc/en/document/7180Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells NO2ID at the Fabians
Last Friday Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells NO2ID spoke to the Fabian Society on ID cards and the National Identity Register. Group co-ordinator Ian Holton said: "We received an overwhelmingly positive reception from the Fabians. Opposition to NO2ID was almost disappointingly thin, but a good debate was had nonetheless".Cambridge NO2ID and student support
Cambridge NO2ID had a presence at the Cambridge University Student Union Societies' Fair on 2nd & 3rd October, kindly hosted by CU Student Liberal Democrats. Other political societies including the Conservative Association, the Fabians and Respect were also very supportive, and helped us hand out badges and literature. We now have several hundred student supporters at Cambridge University, and are hoping to organise policy debates about ID cards at several political clubs.Manchester Students Against ID
Manchester Students Against ID promoted Manchester Amnesty's screening of "Taking Liberties", which featured a Q&A session with director Chris Atkins. Atkins praised NO2ID and other groups for their important work raising public awareness of issues such as the National Identity Register. Manchester NO2ID has been mailing all local media a press release based around the Home Office's "National Identity Theft Prevention Week", calling on the Government to scrap useless expensive identity cards and instead buy a cross-cut shredder for every household in the country.The sinister truth about what they do with our children’s fingerprints
Sue Reid, writing in the Daily Mail, has been interviewing parents who object to their children being routinely fingerprinted to use school facilities.http://www.no2id.net/news/newsblog/?p=693
The watchers’ watchdog
The Information Commissioner’s Office has once again made a link between the Home Office ID card system and the threat of a surveillance society.http://www.no2id.net/news/newsblog/?p=689
"ID" in the news
Westminster avoids fingerprints - Computing 12/10/07
Parliament's security advisers have abandoned the idea of using fingerprint technology to enhance the security surrounding the Commons and the Lords for fear it could pose a risk of mutilation of MPs, Peers or staff.http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2201034/westminster-avoids-fingerprints
UK ID card service mounts birth, marriage, death landgrab - The Register 11/10/07
The UK Identity & Passport Service (UKIPS) has staged an identity landgrab on birth, marriage and death records. From April 2008 the General Register Office, which is responsible for recording these matters and is currently a directorate of the Office of National Statistics, is to become part of UKIPS, meaning that UKIPS will be logging you from the moment you're born until the moment you die.http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/11/ips_borg_engulfs_gro/
Police on album 'identity parade' - BBC News Online 10/10/07
Police are handing out stickers and albums as a way of helping youngsters identify their local policing team. When they have completed their albums, the children can have their fingerprint taken at Brixham police station and register their details to win a VIP trip to the force's headquarters in Exeter.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7037324.stm
Biometrics trial at Gatwick - Computing 9/10/07
A government trial of fingerprint systems is underway at London's Gatwick airport as part of plans to use biometric technology to address immigration issues. Applicants for UK visas from across the world are already required to provide a fingerprint with their application. Under the BioDev project, which runs until April, biometrics from visitors from Freetown, Sierra Leone will be checked again when they reach the UK.http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2200790/biometrics-trial-gatwick
Lord Darzi pledges IT review - E-Health Insider 5/10/07
A review of England’s NHS IT modernisation programme to ensure it "delivers real clinical benefits" is promised in health minister Lord Darzi’s interim report on the health service published yesterday.http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/3093/lord_darzi_pledges_it_review
Belgium launches multipurpose ID cards - The Guardian 4/10/07
Unlike Britain, where residents will have to be 16 to qualify for the card, Belgians are eligible from birth. The Belgian government has begun issuing stylishly designed blue and green children's cards both as an identity and a child protection measure. The kids' card has three functions, says Joachim Van Eyck, project manager at the federal interior ministry.http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/oct/04/guardianweeklytechnologysection.idcards?gusrc=rss&feed=technology
Chip-and-pin backfires as credit card fraud soars 25 per cent - Daily Mail 3/10/07
Eighteen months after chip and PIN became compulsory, credit and debit card fraud is up by more than a quarter, according to banking industry figures published today.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=485430&in_page_id=1770
ID card-based criminal record checks get thumbs up - ZDNet 2/10/07
Plans for a new service using the government's controversial ID cards scheme to speed up criminal record checks have met with approval from volunteers involved in a trial of the technology. The volunteers piloted two potential online services developed by the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) and the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) which could be used to authenticate the identities of and information supplied by job applicants.http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39289753,00.htm
Europe's concern over UK data protection 'defects' revealed - The Guardian 1/10/07
The European Commission is threatening legal action against the UK government for failing to properly safeguard individuals' personal data. The commission has raised questions over the way the Data Protection Act and other legislation have implemented 11 articles of the 34-article European data protection directive - almost one-third of the whole.http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/story/0,,2180823,00.html
UK to head pan-EU e-identity programme - Computer Weekly 28/9/07
The UK is to spearhead a £14m pilot project covering 13 European countries to test the interoperability of several electronic identity systems. This may eventually give citizens and businesses access to e-government services across the EU if governments can agree to accept one another's vetting processes. "It is about the eventual pan-European recognition of electronic IDs," a spokesman for the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) told Computer Weekly.http://tinyurl.com/2kapk4
Countdown to terminal's take-off - BBC News Online 27/9/07
All passengers on domestic routes will have their photograph taken and fingerprint scanned at passport control. Their fingerprint will be checked again at the gate before boarding. Heathrow's operator BAA says this was to allow them to "enter and use the full departure lounge and facilities".http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7015785.stm
DfT unveils 'smart-card' national bus pass for older & disabled people - PublicTechnology.net 19/9/07
Department for Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly yesterday unveiled a new smart-card pass that will give older and disabled people free off-peak bus travel across England from 1st April, 2008. The new passes will also incorporate ITSO 'smartcard' technology to boost the roll out of 'smart ticketing'.http://tinyurl.com/2vw33n
(Please send me any items of interest you encounter - Editor(newsletter@no2id.net) )
http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id-supporters
No comments:
Post a Comment