"It is 21 years since Tony Blair's government made proposals for an ID card system to tackle illegal working and immigration, and to make it more convenient for the public to access services. The same issues are on the agenda again as Keir Starmer revives what became one of New Labour's most controversial policies. He is about to find out if he can defeat the argument that David Cameron's Conservatives"
"made before scrapping it. They said the ID card approach to personal privacy was the worst of all worlds intrusive, ineffective and enormously expensive. Blair is an important figure in the latest push, through lobbying carried out by his Tony Blair Institute (TBI). The idea re-emerges in a different technological world in which smartphones are ubiquitous and much, but far from all, of the population is familiar with negotiating digital credentials."
"TBI's arguments in favour are that far from reflecting the papers, please caricature, digital ID brings fairness, control and convenience to people's everyday interactions with each other and with the state. It can close loopholes exploited by trafficking gangs, reduce pull factors driving illegal migration to Britain, speed up citizens' interactions with government, reduce errors and identity fraud and boost trust as a tangible symbol of a more responsive and flexible state."
Proposals for an ID card system originally advanced 21 years ago are being revived to address illegal working and immigration and to simplify public access to services. The revival is backed by lobbying from the Tony Blair Institute and occurs in a context where smartphones are widespread but digital familiarity is uneven. Supporters cite benefits including fairness, convenience, reduced trafficking loopholes, lower illegal migration pull factors, faster government interactions, fewer errors and less identity fraud. Opponents focus on privacy risks from national databases and the potential to worsen digital exclusion for older or offline populations.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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