ID Cards: BCS supports findings of MP committee
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The BCS had submitted written and oral evidence to the Committee raising concerns that the ID card initiative is very likely to fail without clearly defining the scope and requirement of the project, and is pleased to see such concerns mirrored by the Committee's report.
Dr Mike Rodd, BCS External Relations Director said, 'Several months' work has gone into providing evidence to the Home Affairs Committee and we are encouraged to see that almost every concern we have raised has been incorporated into the final report.
'Our primary concerns focus on the lack of objective the ID projects has. Indeed, there does not seem to be any fixed statement on what the system is meant to achieve, what success or failure criteria are imposed and which scope limitations have been imposed.
'Great attention is paid to the reduction in fraud; later the emphasis switches to counter-terrorism; there is an underlying thread of immigration control, of dealing with the issue of illegal workers within the economy, and all the odd reference to abusing services such as the NHS! Simply, the objective is confusing.'
As the voice for the UK's IT profession, the BCS has vowed to support the Home Office in trying to overcome the difficulties raised in the report. Dr Rodd will be providing input to the Government's Science and Technology Group to ensure the ID project is a success.
Related links to this article:
British Computer Society
Background information to this article:
The role of the Information Commissioner is to be the independent champion of public openness and personal privacy with various specific responsibilities set out in the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and other legislation
Subject Access: The Data Protection Act provides individuals with certain rights with regard to information which is held about them. Individuals have the right to find out what information is held about them and what use is being made of the information. This is known as the right of 'subject access'.
Related articles:
ID Cards: Information Commissioner expresses concerns - 2 August
ID Cards: Intellect challenges the Home Affairs Select Committee report - 2 August
ID Cards: MP committee backs them but criticises implementation & laws
ID Cards: There are serious issues for disabled people, warns BCS - Friday, June 11, 2004
ID Cards: Blunkett announces PA Consulting Group as private sector partner - 25 May, 2004
ID Cards: Strong backlash as No2ID launches to fight the Home Office (May 21, 2004)
ID cards: Privacy International lashes out against the cards (May 21, 2004)
ID cards: 1 million people would go to prison in protest says poll (May 21, 2004)
ID cards: Law Society President expresses grave concerns (May 21, 2004)
ID Cards: Home Affairs Committee to give ID Cards bill ‘thorough examination'
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Related links to this subject:
Pro ID Cards:
The Home office draft legislation and consultation on ID Cards can be found here at this link
Home Office Identity Cards Programme
Anti-ID cards
Privacy International
Foundation for Information Policy Research
Evidence to House of Commons committees on ID Cards:
> Parliamentary Home Affairs Committee: Uncorrected transcript of Oral Evidence given by The Rt Hon David Blunkett MP, Home Secretary; Mr Desmond Browne MP, Minister of State for Citizenship and Immigration, Home Office; Katherine Courtney, Director, Identity Cards Programme, Home Office; Stephen Harrison, Head, Identity Card Policy Unit, Home Office: uploaded on 6 May 2004
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