Hong Kong Gets Smart ID Cards

Posted by michael on Tuesday March 12, 2002 @01:55AM from the papers-please dept.

darnellmc writes: "This AP article is about Hong Kong's new smart ID cards (mandatory) with "embedded computer chips that hold names, pictures and birthdates -- as well as a digital template of both thumbprints". The picture in the article shows a man holding them and smiling. The article also mentions "Hong Kong's government backed down on proposals to have the cards carry health and bank records". The Hong Kong government hopes to add optional features like using them as driving licenses and library cards. This government learned nothing from the USA's abuse of the Social Security number, this is much worse. Hoping one card will do it all. These cards are also in the works in other countries like Finland, Malaysia and Japan where they are to be optional. Thailand is working on a mandatory card."

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Re:ID Card Threat? by palmersperry · 2002-03-12 02:03 · Score: 5, Interesting

The "threats" that I'm aware of are :-

1) Compulsory ID cards only make sense if it's requirement to always carry them, and *that* only makes sense if the Police can stop anyone and ask to see them at anytime - at which point you're perilously close to a police state[1].

2) Badly implemented smart cards will make it easy for the theft of other peoples identities.

[1] Of course, Hong Kong has been perilously close (if only in geographic terms) to a police state ever since the Chinese revolution!