SubJeff on 6/3/2008 at 16:13
Quote Posted by R Soul
Last year my family and I renewed our passports so that we'd have 10 years before having to get the new "improved" (biometric) versions.
This is going to happen more and more too. As soon as a date is set people will flood into the passport offices to get new ones before the biometric versions are mandatory.
Guys you know it's a serious situation when I agree 100% with SD (don't you work for the civil service though SD? Not technically the government. And oh how about that lib dem jump ship session eh eh whip whip epic fail lol :p ).
Waste of time and money, won't make us safer and is a potential tool of oppression. Arguably this will make us LESS safe - this government is (as pointed out by SD) terrible at safeguarding data and if someone DOES have a forged card and then blows the bejesus out of BA Flight 12DOOMED they just go "oh, but we made provisions, it can't be helped" with the easy "but he hadz the ID :mad: " excuse. Not to mention that high faith in a system will likely lead to complacency - "I saw 'is 'Kill the infidel NOW NOW NOW!!' tatoo but e got the ID so I fawt he was safe as ouuuuuuses, din'I?"
It is nothing like the ID cards you get in other countries.
Turtle on 6/3/2008 at 16:31
I'll be damned if I'm gonna let some Paki from the East side find out what my retina looks like!:mad: :mad:
R Soul on 6/3/2008 at 16:56
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
As soon as a date is set...
What if they keep quiet about it, you know, for security reasons?
rachel on 6/3/2008 at 17:56
We've had ID cards forever in France, and they're just as widespread here in Spain. I really don't see how that's a big deal... It's just a card with your ID on it, oh my, how shocking!
Spaztick on 6/3/2008 at 17:58
Quote Posted by raph
We've had ID cards forever in France, and they're just as widespread here in Spain. I really don't see how that's a big deal... It's just a card with your ID on it, oh my, how shocking!
Did you bother to read? They don't just put your ID on it, they put everything about you on it as well.
SD on 6/3/2008 at 18:01
Quote Posted by raph
We've had ID cards forever in France, and they're just as widespread here in Spain. I really don't see how that's a big deal... It's just a card with your ID on it, oh my, how shocking!
Yeah, but you continentals have always been rather less precious about surrendering your liberties than us.
jay pettitt on 6/3/2008 at 18:06
hee hee :)
It's shocking because our Government can't be trusted not to lose, sell or privatise personal data, or for that matter implement large scale IT projects.
The 'ooh - there's nothing to worry about unless you've something to hide' argument doesn't wash because it does rather also depend on who does the asking, not just on whether you've been a bad person. If a potential employer has asked you if you've had an aids test or suffered from a mental illness you'll understand what I'm talking about. If you've lived in a Country whose government doesn't like your religion or politics then you'll also understand.
That and I happen to like the fact that I live in a Country where I don't have to carry papers and surrender them to officials on request.
SD on 6/3/2008 at 18:10
Quote Posted by jay pettitt
It's shocking because our Government can't be trusted not to lose, sell or privatise personal data, or for that matter implement large scale IT projects.
Not only that, but even if you decide this government can be trusted with your data, there's no guarantee that future governments will be so benevolent.
rachel on 6/3/2008 at 18:42
Quote Posted by jay pettitt
It's shocking because our Government can't be trusted not to lose, sell or privatise personal data, or for that matter implement large scale IT projects.
With our dear Napoleon-wannabe in charge, i'm not sure how we're better in that regard...
Quote Posted by jay pettitt
The 'ooh - there's nothing to worry about unless you've something to hide' argument doesn't wash because it does rather also depend on who does the asking, not just on whether you've been a bad person. If a potential employer has asked you if you've had an aids test or suffered from a mental illness you'll understand what I'm talking about. If you've lived in a Country whose government doesn't like your religion or politics then you'll also understand.
I didn't make that argument. I can only speak for France, but the French ID card is just a piece of plastic issued by the state confirming you are who you say you are, your age and where you live. That's it. There's nothing else on it. Secularism makes the religious argument a moot point since that's not their business to ask, and the Medical records are stored under the Social Security number, which is another administration entirely.
If that scares anyone, whoop-de-friggin-doo. It's not mandatory, nobody forces you to have one anyway.
Shadow Creepr on 6/3/2008 at 18:59
As of 5 this evening there was this (
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7280495.stm) article about them wanting to 'rethink' the scheme.
I am still trying to figure out if I am in the group that they want to try these new cards out on first.
(Home Secretary Jacqui) Smith confirmed that some non-EU migrants applying for leave to enter or remain in the UK, such as students or spouses, will need ID cards from November. I applied for and was granted my leave to remain (permanent residency) as of April 2007. I can apply for my citizenship at the end of next month (April 30th). I don't know if I am reading it right and that I will not be required to have a card since I already have my ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain). They said on the news that it is voluntary and then they turn around and say they want everyone to have one. Personally I don't want this card for the above mentioned reason - they don't know how to keep the private details safe.
