UK Compulsory National Identity Cards

Dangers of ID Cards

Single Point of Failure

When you lose or have stolen you entire wallet/purse, that's different. It's happened to us all at least once and the inconvenience is huge. Our life effectively stops until we sort things out.

Now imagine that you also lost every other form of ID - from your passport down to your library ticket.

That's what would happen if you lost your ID Card. Within a few years, functionality creep will mean that the compulsory National ID Card will be used for almost everything. Lose it and you won't be able to operate in society until you get it replaced. You might not even be able to buy a drink in a pub without it.

Now imagine a darker scenario. Today, if someone steals/fakes your credit card they can spend money as you. If they steal/fake your work ID they can enter your office as you. If they steal/fake your gym/club membership card or whatever they can interact socially as you.

If they fake your National Identity Card they will be able to do all that - and more. ID Cards are a skeleton key to your identity. Instead of faking many pieces of identity, the criminal/terrorist only needs to fake one thing.

Of course, we're told that the biometrics on the cards will be secure. The lesson of history is that nothing is secure. Remember when DVDs were first introduced? They were supposed to put an end to video piracy by being uncopyable. Today you can buy a DVD copier on any high street.

Only the technically naive can believe that it will be "impossible" to fake ID Cards. Difficult, yes, but organised criminals and terrorists have huge resources and great incentive.

Within a few years criminals and terrorists will have the ability to fake any ID Cards. Then the Card will not protect your identity - it will threaten it.