UK Compulsory ID Plan Shelved

e9th writes "Despite a bump or two along the way, it seemed that compulsory ID cards were a done deal in the UK. Now, the Financial Times is reporting that the scheme has been shelved. Unfortunately, it seems that this was more a matter of convenience than of concern for citizens' privacy."

Comments

Re:I don't get it

[ArcherB]

If it comes to UK it was mostly about database that should store them and information there. And UK.gov ineptitude when it comes to anything IT.

So is that the problem, the DB? Why not just forbid government tracking without just cause or other "intelligence" activities using government mandated ID's?

I don't have a problem with standardized ID's. I don't have a problem being "forced" to carry one. To me, it makes sense. Under laws that state you don't need to carry or present and ID when asked, Osama Bin Laden could happily walk down the street in any state in America and simply refuse to show ID when asked.

Police: Sir, you are a six foot plus Arab man with a ball sack beard and a you are being followed around by a kidney dialysis machine. You a striking resemblance to the most wanted terrorist in the world. Can I see your ID?
Bin Laden: No!
Police: OK, can I ask your name?
Bin Laden: You can ask. Hell, I'll even tell you. I'm John Smith... no wait, I'm George Boosh. Yeah, George Boosh.
Police: So, your not Bin Laden?
Bin Laden: Nope.
Police: Well, I can't take you in for being a tall Arab. Thank you citizen. Have a good day.

Granted, Osama Bin Laden is not going to be walking down the street in Anytown USA, but the point is still valid. Replace Bin Laden with any wanted criminal and the point doesn't change.

I understand the "papers please" argument, and reject it because we simply do not have the manpower to set up checkpoints and run around asking everyone for "papers, please". Even if we could muster the manpower, the citizens wouldn't stand for it. The very second city police start asking everyone for ID is the second before a local mayor gets recalled for being an asshole. Same goes for any state governor. Granted, it's harder for local community or state to recall a President, but that's what the Freedom of the Press, the ACLU, The House of Representatives and the Court system are for.

Re:I don't get it

[ArcherB]

Don't be ridiculous - the 9/11 terrorists carried 100% genuine and official Government issued ID. Guess what? Carrying ID didn't help on single bit. Know why? Knowing who someone is and where they are doesn't tell you if they are a terrorist. It doesn't tell you what their intentions are. All it does is give you a huge amount of power over them.

On the morning of September 11, the 9-11 terrorists hadn't done anything wrong. I'm not saying that ID would have stopped 9-11. I'm saying that it's too damn easy to deny who you are when you are wanted. Seriously, how can a warrant be served if the target of the warrants simply says, "I'm not the droids you are looking for."?