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UK Can't Read Its Own ID Cards

Posted by samzenpus on from the forest-for-the-trees dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Despite the introduction of ID cards last November, it has emerged that Britain has no readers that are able to read the cards' microchips, which contain the person's fingerprints and other biometric information. With cops and border guards unable to use the cards to check a person's identity, critics are calling the £4.7bn scheme 'farcical' and a 'waste of time.'"

23 of 205 comments (clear)

  1. privacy by justhatched · · Score: 5, Funny

    It is a security measure

    1. Re:privacy by davester666 · · Score: 5, Funny

      except everybody BUT the gov't can read them...

      it's funny, but sad-funny.

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    2. Re:privacy by Llanfairpwllgwyngyll · · Score: 3, Funny

      It's like "plug and play" - that worked 50% too. As in, "plug" always worked, it was just the "play" bit that had problems...

    3. Re:privacy by Rigrig · · Score: 2, Funny

      Simple: you implement RFC 3514 on the passports.

      --
      **TODO** [X] Steal someone elses sig.
  2. Re:Look at Belgium by u38cg · · Score: 4, Funny

    Or alternatively, we could spend the money on something useful, like giving every child a pony.

    --
    [FUCK BETA]
  3. Re:Look at Belgium by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    omgponies!

  4. You don't say. by greenguy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Britain has no readers that are able to the cards' microchip

    Hey, we all know how hard it can be to a card's microchip.

    --
    What if I do the same thing, and I do get different results?
    1. Re:You don't say. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      I accidentally the card's microchip, is this bad? :(

    2. Re:You don't say. by BobisOnlyBob · · Score: 5, Funny

      That sentence no verb!! You have no idea how much that me. >:(

    3. Re:You don't say. by molecular · · Score: 5, Funny

      I accidentally the card's microchip, is this bad? :(

      not if you didn't the chip on purpose, then you only have to money, not to jail.

    4. Re:You don't say. by Rigrig · · Score: 2, Funny

      As long as you didn't the card's microchip you can just the card's microchip, that should the card's microchip. Just don't accidentally the card's microchip.

      --
      **TODO** [X] Steal someone elses sig.
  5. t Britain has no readers that are able... by Chrisq · · Score: 2, Funny

    Britain has no readers that are able to the cards' microchip,

    No problem, can't we just take them round to the Russian embassy? I'm sure that they are quite capable of reading all our microchips.

  6. Queen song comes to mind by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Faaarcical! Faaarcical!
    I like to ride my
    Faaarcical! Faaarcical!

  7. Re:Look at Belgium by Nick+Fel · · Score: 4, Funny

    Mmmm... food steps.

  8. Re:Look at Belgium by michaeldot · · Score: 3, Funny

    Microchipped pony.

  9. Re:"in response to an FoI request"?!? by Archtech · · Score: 2, Funny

    the uk has a FOIA? srsly, when did this happen?

    I can't disclose that. It's a state secret.

    --
    I am sure that there are many other solipsists out there.
  10. Re:"in response to an FoI request"?!? by JohnBailey · · Score: 5, Funny

    About 9 years ago.

    It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying "Beware of The Leopard.

    --
    It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his job depends on not understanding it.
  11. Re:Look at Belgium by Goffee71 · · Score: 5, Funny

    and when the credit crunch really bites, pony sausages and a nice warm coat

    --
    If he's the Walrus then can I be a penguin please?
  12. /oblig "fixed that for you" by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 4, Funny

    What you want is "Yes, Minister". Down the corridor, third on the left.

    I'm sorry, this is abuse. You want "Yes, Minister". Down the corridor, third on the left.

    Stupid git.

    --
    No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
  13. Re:Look at Belgium by rHBa · · Score: 5, Funny

    We could call it the OPPC project

  14. Re:HRH Queen Elizabeth the Second?! by Sockatume · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is why I normally use the Royal Etiquitte Add-On for Firefox. Stupid work PC.

    --
    No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
  15. Re:Look at Belgium by digitig · · Score: 4, Funny

    Maybe, but we were talking about eating it.

    --
    Quidnam Latine loqui modo coepi?
  16. You wull gave to put "Criminal" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    on the "Work" section. Making it easy to catch the criminals.

    When they are all arrested, no more crime!