ID cards - we know who you are, we own you and you're paying us for the privelege

[purpleyin]

I hate reading about the government throwing away money. Of course the alternative is to not read and be ignorant, but I care too much to be that. I just goggle at the coast and how much better spent that'd be on the NHS, education, the police - on paying teachers and nurses and fireman etc decent salaries they can live off. I suppose more money has been wasted on going to war (mustn't get started on that) but this I despise because they're trying to sell us on the idea of it being good for us.

From what I've seen, people either don't care, don't know or don't like it at all - generally - with some casually thinking it might prove useful. The whole thing is ignoring how dangerous the database concept is (the card itself isn't the worst idea ever though I think it a waste of money over current passports and other ID) and how they're relying on technology that is not ready for it, probably set up by contractors who like always won't deliver it on time or as it needs to be. The costs will spiral and we will pay for it. We don't need this. It won't stop terrorism, it won't help prevent crime - it will only complicate life.

I signed the petition against the scheme and I commented on it on a Labour pary feedback survey and all I got in response was standard spiel answers about how great it'll be for me, time saving etc and that the technology is fine - ignoring that it's so not better, the technology isn't there for reliability nor security, and fraud will be probably easier and more of a problem to deal with. Just imagine getting refused service somewhere "because the system doesn't recognise you" or you're already apparently registered for something despite you never having done that and how instead of them thinking hmm there might be a fault you'd probably get bullshitted with "but the system's never wrong" as if computers can't have faults nor be exploited. :/

What will it take to stop this? When I mention it to people I know usually they say they'll just refuse to have a card, ignoring that actually the plan is you'll be fined £1,000 (or was it £10,000) or face jail for refusing to sue them after a certain point in the future. They're going to compulsory and nothing so far has done more than halt their introduction. I just hope someone is brave enough to refuse first off and will get supported by the pledge fund that people promised to donate to should anyone require legal assistance for a boycott.

Comments

[major-zoidberg.livejournal.com]

Labour don't seem to listen when it comes to these things. I'm all for civil war. Communists FTW! :p

But it is a complete waste of money! I said the same thing about the Iraq war. What a waste of money. I'm sure the NHS needs it!

I won't be getting one! Having every little detail of my life on a computer database somewhere and having to rely on it to get anything done is just not a pleasent thought!

[missyvortexdv.livejournal.com]

Love the icon btw.

Nope, not a pleasant thought. Not secure, not reliable and we'll be paying through the teeth for it. Good luck refusing though, looks like they're going to make it really hard to resist - not like many people can afford the type of fine they're imposing.

[doylefan22.livejournal.com]

My other pet hate recently is those people who are calling for the UK to switch to using kilometres instead of miles to measure road distance. They can't seem to give any true reason except for saying 'it'd be better because we'd be like everyone else'. Call me crazy but I don't really see that as a reason for spending £1.5billion and causing even more disruption on the roads...

[missyvortexdv.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that is totally unnecessary. Why fix what isn't broken? Besides, we don't need to be like everyone else. I remember how confusing it was when shops had to formally change to using kilograms rather than lbs. Really annoying and customers still thought in oz/lbs, just the added fuss of converting it mentally to tell how much it should be. *shakes head*

[hannah-hinda.livejournal.com]

Oh Gods, ID cards are the worst and stupidest idea ever, with the possibility that they'll help create a police state that little bit quicker. I don't trust government private contractors to do anything right, and it's terrifying. Not to mention the apparent link-ups the government database could have with any private company that sucks up enough/some MP has vested interests in. Sorry, not an altogether helpful comment - but if you find anything more re: ID card protests, let me know and I'll be there.

[missyvortexdv.livejournal.com]

I don't know about physical protests but I've signed up for http://www.no2id.net/ for updates on the situation. Lib Dems also appear to be against the idea, I think I signed up for something related to it on their site but forget what...

And the other main thing was the pledge to donate to legal aid for those who refuse the cards.

http://www.pledgebank.com/resist

[missyvortexdv.livejournal.com]

Yep, if they're going to do computers they should forget about giving the contract to the fuckwits who consistently don't deliver and still get paid *my mind boggles at how they can be paid for work not done and not suffer for it*

[kip-cathey.livejournal.com]

Skeery. Vewy vewy skeery.

But seriously, do they honestly beleive that a system like that is going to be safer? You know the main database for all that info is gonna be the centre of attacks for... well, ever. They tried doing that here in America... didn't pan out to well for them. But I know they shall return, dumb arsed gov't ideas always do.

Fight it like crazy! Communism FTW! :)

[missyvortexdv.livejournal.com]

Exactly. It's totally impractical from the stand point of keeping witness protection safe. Names can be changed on files but if they're gonna keep biometrics etc then you can't change that and I'm sure that'd mean less security for those undergoing witness protection - all they'd need to do would be access it before the name is changed and then do a search for the same data after the going into hiding. I can't see quite how they'll protect against that problem - and even with safeguards they can't hope for it never to be compromised. At the very least there's potential for human corruption.

[dr-dredd.livejournal.com]

There's talk about doing this in the States, too. The other wanked-out idea our government has come up with is putting RFID chips in passports so that the info can be read with a scanner.

Hello, identity theft, anyone?