// Claims that identity cards will protect against terrorism are ‘absolute bunkum’ – says an expert at the government’s intelligence agency.  JOHN HIGGINSON  The £4billion card scheme is really part of Labour’s agenda to cut costs and bureaucracy by ensuring public [...] Related posts:
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Civilian ID cards ‘will not thwart terrorists’

on October 30, 2008 6:24 pm / 8 comments

 

Claims that identity cards will protect against terrorism are ‘absolute bunkum’ – says an expert at the government’s intelligence agency. 

JOHN HIGGINSON 

The £4billion card scheme is really part of Labour’s agenda to cut costs and bureaucracy by ensuring public bodies can share information, said Harvey Mattinson, a senior consultant at spy station GCHQ.

‘You cannot share information without identity authentication,’ he told the Society of IT Management’s annual conference. ‘We have got to get this right because it is stopping us doing our business.

‘We need biometric as well as biographical data. We will have to build up the information on the chip.’ Mr Mattinson was addressing repeated claims by home secretary Jacqui Smith that ID cards would help thwart terror attacks by making it harder for criminals to acquire multiple aliases.

Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said: ‘Far from strengthening our security, ID cards are an expensive white elephant that risk making us less – not more – safe.’

The cards are to be introduced for foreign nationals from next month before a general roll-out.

 

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  • Bootleger

    We do Passports, licences and can even take your points off.

    No job too small.

    Biometrics will make me thousands, cheers New Labour.

  • George Orwell

    bootlegger above said it would make him thousnads. Come on people, the government having more info on us is not a good thing(overall), no matter how you spin it. Its nobody’s business what my face, eye measurements are(biometrics), its pure technocracy. A sick imposition by a governmant with a crazy amount of power who love to abuse their power. They have that power mainly because people who say things like bootlegger above, give it to them. This is not a democracy. Mislead, highly manipulated conformists too busy caught in their vicious cycles to stop and see society as it really is.There is really no government, just people screwing around other people.

  • Bootleger

    Say you lost your ID card and I found it, I could take all your data. Then from that I could build up a nice little earner.

  • Bootleger

    From now on I won't have to root in your bin because it will all be on one card, and if I am really lucky I will have the whole wallet with other cards and ID too.

    I will even have your mothers maiden name – good job.

  • George Orwell

    Come on bootlegger- this site needs real content, not pseudo intellectual cocky half witty talk! I'm not even talking down all crime. Just saying – Dont give the real criminals(the government:with a huge negative effect)more power.

  • Bootleger

    So I'm not a real crook, and no I don't sell driving licences, sorry, but guess what, there are people out there who can and will make lots of dosh from the new ID card scheme.

    +

    The ID card is about tax collection, not fighting terrorism.

    And guess who's brother is set to make millions from their introduction?

  • http://www.smart-card.com Senior smartcarduy

    Does anyone know where I can find more information about this?

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