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Hong Kong Gets Smart ID Cards

Posted by michael on 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."

2 of 313 comments (clear)

  1. Re:ID Card Threat? by palmersperry · · 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!

  2. Hong Kong already HAS mandatory ID cards by indecision · · Score: 5, Informative
    I lived in Hong Kong for 18 years; everyone over the age of 16 has to carry an ID card, with your ID number, photo, name, and date of birth. The ID cards are also proof of a right of abode in Hong Kong, like a birth certificate in the UK.

    So this change is limited to putting a smart chip in a card people already carry.

    Not that its not dangerous -- there are a whole load of risks associated with people not knowing what information they are giving up whenever they show it (though there are laws about who is allowed to request it), as opposed to a print-only card where its obvious what you are showing.

    indecision