Info Commissioner blasts Big Brother over ID card plans

The government is playing around with the idea of introducing a so-called "entitlement card" which will have smart technology that includes personal information.

But Info Commissioner Richard Thomas hit out at the plans, saying that the idea might not only open up citizens to fraud but would need a central database and could cause "function creep".

This is a term which implies that the cards would be asked for by any Jobsworth or Nosey Parker, and also could end up including the political or religious views of the holder, as well as holding details of race.

Talking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Thomas said the scheme was the most ambitious plan of any in the world, and he called for limits and independent watchdogs to police the scheme, as well as asking for stringent data protection safeguards on the ID cards.

See Also
Big Brothers
The Poindexter-industrial complex
UK identity cards "no threat to civil liberties"
Entitle this!
Blair, Blunkett turn Britain into police state