ID Cards

[Posts: 4757Joined: 07 Oct 2002, 11:50Location: Scotland]

Billy Liar aka Tony Blair was at it again yesterday lying through his big teeth about ID Cards this time. The fools are voting tonight at 10pm on wether we are going towards a watched nation or if we will remain a free and civilised country.

I'd vote NO .. what about you?

[Posts: 2684Joined: 05 Nov 2002, 15:47]

Am I the only one here who thinks that, if we're to have ID cards, this is a very stupid and almost certainly very costly way of going about it?

There's obviously going to be different biometrics systems and specifications across the world.

If we choose to be one of the pioneers, we could end up with the betamax of biometrics systems.

And that would mean that we'd not only have to pay for the first system we introduced, we'd have to pay to replace it.

Why not let some other country pay for the development and then implement whatever system is chosen as the international standard (after it's been developed and all the problems ironed out)?

On another point, Charles Clarke's claim that he's going to cap the cost of an ID card is total nonsense.

If the cost goes over that, we'll just have to pay it in taxes.

Whatever the cost of the cards, we're going to pay every penny.

Yet, I don't remember seeing that simple insight on tonight's news.

Steve

[Posts: 1194Joined: 08 Jun 2002, 16:58Location: Arra. (Harrow if your posh)]

Dave Jay.

I thought Sir Ian had started the thread about Big Brother.:biggrin:

Still, if it does happen then it will stop terrorism, fraud and make our world a lot better place. HA HA OL.

Especially for the Russian counterfitters!

I vote NON .

[Posts: 4757Joined: 07 Oct 2002, 11:50Location: Scotland]

No other country in the world is going in for biometric testing, nor will it.

[Posts: 4757Joined: 07 Oct 2002, 11:50Location: Scotland]

Well the slime voted AYE .. last night, suprise, suprise.

[Posts: 6673Joined: 25 Feb 2001, 19:39Location: Surrey]

Imagine, after spending all the "dosh" the EC decide that all member countries must have an ID to their specifications and the UK will have to adapt to this format.

An utter waste of money and hopefully will bring that smarmy Blair down once and for all.

Also, no "IT" system is secure while there are dishonest people willing sell their information. There a lot crimes committed in this way that are just not not let out into the public domain.

Regards- Matron<br>:cool:

[Posts: 2684Joined: 05 Nov 2002, 15:47]

In business there's a massive risk and cost in developing new technology.

However, if you succeed and your technology is chosen as industry standard, there's a massive upside.

For a government project like this, the downside cost and risk is still there, but I don't see where the upside is.    

Personally, I don't have a philosphical position on the idea of ID cards.

However, I do have a position on risking money unnecessarily. And that position is that it's very stupid.

Our government (and most other governments) have a track record of failing at IT projects.

The smart thing if we're going to have ID cards or something similar, would be to let some other governments fail at it until one finally succeeds.

Let their taxpayers pick up the tab and then we can use the technology without any of the development cost.  

Steve

[Posts: 2175Joined: 25 May 2005, 16:04Location: Wombourne]

I did hear that one of the companies that may be involved in the ID card scheme is the same outfit responsible for the excellent computer system currently operated by the CSA.

I have some experience of government IT contracts and they usually follow the same pattern. Ministers with no experience of private industry sign contracts which contain no penalties for failure to deliver. Computer system crashes, or, as in the case of the Inland Revenue, the CSA (twice) and the Home Office, never get off the ground. The same IT companies then receive further payments to put right what they were paid to do in the first place.

What is the going rate for old rope these days?

[Posts: 2684Joined: 05 Nov 2002, 15:47]

[i]Ministers with no experience of private industry sign contracts which contain no penalties for failure to deliver .... the same companies then receive further payments to put right what they were paid to do in the first place. [/i]

Obviously the same basic contract they use for IT projects is the same as the one for the building of the Scottish Paliament.

[Posts: 4757Joined: 07 Oct 2002, 11:50Location: Scotland]

They're going to finger print, photograph and DNA the entire population .. one has to wonder to what end.

Ian, I would have an ID card if it meant that my children could continue to live in a world free of nosey spies.

That's just the kind of hairpin I am .. :biggrin:

[Posts: 1077Joined: 31 Mar 2003, 14:31Location: Brum]

i believe they have asked Endemol to run it.

[Posts: 4757Joined: 07 Oct 2002, 11:50Location: Scotland]

Obviously, any company getting involved in this business should be subjected to an outright boycott or all of their other services.<br>

(Edited by dave jay at 11:58 am on June 30, 2005)

[Posts: 30Joined: 25 May 2005, 11:37Location: Ayrshire]

Call me simple (I'm sure someone will) but don't we already have an ID card system - it's called a passport. <br>I recently applied to renew mine and was faced with a barrage of questions etc. and a supplementary (voluntary) form asking for all sorts of details. On calling the Passport Office I was casually informed that this was just the Government wanting all sorts of details about me and my bank accounts and to throw it in the bin. Nice man, there should be more of them working in the civil service.<br>As for the Government's record on computer systems, can anyone tell me if the traffic control system down south ever got up and running ?