National ID cards in the UK: Debates For and Against

subject field ID bill of fares in the UK Debates For and AgainstIntroducing discipline ID gameboards in the linked Kingdom.The concept of this outline to introduce National ID card in the UK, is so that any legal citizen of the United Kingdom should be able to swear their identity simply by producing this card and thence prove their obligation to be within the UK without argument. It bequeath do this by holding exuberant personal data to specifically identify a person as the individual they are claiming to be without question.You whitethorn wonder why the presidential term feel this a unavoidable action and it calculates the main(prenominal) aim of this precis is that the National ID card is ultimately in listed to assist with law enforcement predominantly in singing to terrorism and organised crime. One of the main criteria for this system of rules therefore, is that the cards should not be easily forged so that anyone need to flout the law could do so easily.T hese cards are merely intended to hold basic data about a person, just enough to prove their identity. Howalways it seems the definition of this basic data seems about ambiguous. Primarily, for example, it is intended that the card ordain and hold information regarding a persons name, address, date of birth and address etc. Scratch the surface however, and it seems that the developed proposal for the ID card embraces much more technologically sophisticated designs because, as previously stated, it aims to avoid beingness easily forged. Therefore it is intended that it leave behind also hold biometric data, that is to say, data that proves a much more bodily individuality, much(prenominal) as fingerprint impressions or glad scans. It will do this through implementing the opportunities now do available to us through the ever advancing forms of ICT ( tuition and Communication Technology).All this in mind it seems the introduction of National ID cards within the United Kingd om seems to be one of the just about policy-makingly sensitive topics around at this current moment, with people parameter both in reserve and opposition of the synopsis, regarding whether it will protect or reign all oer us.In the aftermath of September the 11th we had perhaps construct more aware than we had been previously, that we were vulnerable to approach shot from Terrorists who despised the Western capitalistic Culture such as that which exists both within the UK and the States where the attack took orient. It was a shock to thousands, if not millions of us all over the world, as we were humbled to witness the devastation that this attack, and attacks like it can cause. For those in support of the National ID card, they claim that terrorist attacks would mean that it would be much more tangled for a terrorist trying to initiate a plan via an assumed mistaken identity because of the designs previously outlined. The idea is that the authorities would question them too smartly once they inevitably failed to produce a logical ID card, and therefore be obstruct their terrorist strategies. thusly one of the intimately adamant supporters of this argument is Mr David Blunkett who is quoted as sayingThe ability to prove ones identity reliably is an ever-more important tone of redbrick life. (www. earthly concerntechnology.net/modules)Indeed Mr Blunketts perspective on this issue is that it represents the answer to our upkeep in fear of attack, as the cards are proposed to be so technologically advanced they will be impossible to forge. Whether this is a valid claim endures to be seen.In addition, the scheme is also seen as a solution to serious and organised crime with the UK and also ostensibly much more ein truthday issues such assisting in the efficiency of public services. Bases persuasive techniques on the basis that those with nothing to hide will all benefit.From this we can see both what the National ID card is intended to be, and why the Government in the main, support this scheme, particularly in light of the war Against Terrorism. However as previously mentioned, the National ID card scheme is a sensitive current affair and does seem to be suitable an increasing Political Hot Potato with concerns raising particularly in relation to our Human Right to retirement and how these may perchance be infringed upon by advancing forms of ICT. Even though a person may take aim nothing to hide they may feel that the schemes enforces extra control over them rather than protecting them. Despite assurances from the Government that only precise basic data will be held on these cards and that only the Government and ourselves (subject to the Data Protection Act 1998) will have a right to access the information, we are aware that in order to distinguish these cards practically impossible to forge the link has to be made between sophisticated forms of ICT in order to incorporate features such iris scans and fingerpri nt impressions etc. As a consequence of this, the use of modern technology seems to have caused panic through an idea that we will locomote a nightspot under the constant supervision of Big pal and that everyone could potentially know our business. In short, there is an opposition to the National ID card as it is suggested it will meet upon our accomplished rights to privacy, and that rather than the scheme being one to protect us, it would ultimately make up one to control us in perhaps what could be identified as a communist trait and therefore undermine the very structure of our current capitalistic society.Indeed an entire website named say No2ID and the Database State is base on the very foundation of this argument. In comparison to the Governments webpage (www.identitycards.gov.uk) of frequently asked questions, which only briefly touches on the issue. Notably only one question on this page tie in to ICT specifically and that didnt really address the concern of ICT ex posing our business, rather it related only to defining biometric dataA biometric is a unique identifying strong-arm characteristic. Examples include facial recognition, iris patterns and fingerprints.( www.identitycards.gov.uk)Basically it would seem that those in oppostion tend to be in fear because the design of the cards is intended to be so advanced that most of us will not be able to fully understand the extent to which we are monitored by this scheme. In essence there seems to be an almost operantly conditioned response amongst the opposition, based on previous experience that our human rights will be sacrificed against our will and thus demolish the UKs characteristic liberal approach to elegant rights and its Capitalist structure.For example, as recently as the 27th November 2005 it was revealed by the escape on Sunday that the database for the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency (DVLA) is actually profiting by selling our data to would be wheel clampers. The scenario bei ng that for a miserable fee, car park attendants and wheel clampers could forward bills to motorists home addresses because they were provided with them by the DVLA. Indeed the DVLA were exposed as even allowing one wheel clamping company to acquire the information (for as little as 2.50 per transaction) whose two bosses were actually already in prison for crimes of extorting money from the Motorist.From this we can see that even when prize organisations such as the DVLA are allowed to hold personal data on us we can sometimes be exploited in the pursual of profit and therefore we can perhaps begin to understand the concerns arising over the National ID card.All this in mind, it is perhaps now relevant to slang this knowledge in order to assess how the scheme will modify the current structure of society within the UK.As a right away overview the UK exists as a Capitalist Society, which thrives on a democratic judicature and allows us our civil human rights such as the right to privacy. This would seem quite a positive description, especially in light of how civil rights have so vehemently been fought for in the past, particularly in relation to the movement to support the rights of black people that took place in America during the 1960s. Indeed it is important to acknowledge that both those who support and oppose the scheme do so because they are fearful for the survival of that political complaisant structure, despite the extremities of approach to the topic i.e., 1. by believing the cards will protect us, or 2) that they will to undermine us.For those in support of the National ID card, it is perhaps a representation of reformism. Meaning that it seems to be an example of a Political Policy whose object is to modify a political confide or aspect of social legislation without changing the fundamental political social structure. (Jary D Jary J, 1999) Yet for those in opposition that is not the courting and the National ID would in fact change th e fundamental political social structure. If as suggested by those in opposition to the scheme that we will become a database state surely we are changing the fundamental political structure of our society as we seem to be relinquishing a great deal of our privacy in order to accommodate such concepts. The concern is that we may perhaps sleep walk our way over to a more politically left / socialist standpoint and therefore sacrifice our Capitalist structure which arguably at this point in time defines the UK. If this is the instance then we could perhaps argue that the decision to corroborate ourselves against terrorists would in fact actually result in us allowing the terrorists to win, as the Capitalist structure would in fact wither naturally.One of the most prevalent characteristics of society within the United Kingdom is surely that of Capitalism, and and so one of the main reasons we are vulnerable to terrorist attacks by organisations like nucleotide who oppose it. Whilst there are variations to the definitions of Capitalism as it is notoriously sticky to define, it would seem that the rejection of centralised control is one of the most prevalent motivations of a Capitalist structure. If we were to take on board those, for example who adamantly guess to say No2ID, then we would arguably be acting in the interest on maintaining our social structure of a Capitalist state as they are rejecting avenues for an influx of databases that may ultimately result in a society which will exist via centralised control in this case through the medium of databases. Whats next providing babies with barcodes?What makes this topic so complex henceforth is that those who are on the other of the fence and support scheme such as Mr Blunkett are in fact motivated by this very same desire to preserve and protect our Capitalist state, and so it seems that this is one of the rare political topics that actually where the aim is actually concur upon by the majority of the nation even if the method is disputed.As alluded to sooner all sorts of arguments exist in relation to the ID card and specifically the impact ICT. We faculty feel that we could be blinded by science and exploited. We might also be justified in feeling that our personal privacy would be exploited by corrupt people in indicant (as is alleged to have happened via the DVLA), however it is also felt a necessary ploy in order to avoid counterfeit duplication. All possibly valid arguments, however, what hasnt been discussed is the actual practical application of this scheme. If, we were to embrace Mr Blunketts main reasoning for the scheme, then surely Police would be encouraged to boss and stop those who they felt could possibly be terrorists. In light of the nemesis from Al-Qaeda this is surely likely to result in a pagan divide, as they would likely stop Asian people thought to control the Islamic religion, rather than white people. In relation to the topic of the well-bred Rig hts movement, mentioned earlier, we would arguably be promoting a shift back towards racism. Since the UK is a place that manages to embrace aspects of Liberalism (a concept which promotes such tolerance of religion and personal and stinting freedom) without challenging the Capitalism in society, the introduction of the ID card would arguably be a backlash against such positive traits and be quite disappointing.Whether in support of the ID card or in extreme opposition, it does seem that it is inevitable as talks persist and plans continue. It would seem that both sides of this argument have a substantial weight to them. However, change and diversity within society is surely inevitable. Its surely what defines our history and characterises our culture. For the UK, it would seem that the National ID card will be one of those most significant changes to occur in the next few years. Yet surely it is better to evolve than remain in a static culture otherwise we would never advance. sur e a risk is worth taking even if we are not always in agreement or sure of the consequences.BibliographyCushing, S (2001) Information and Communication Technology London Letts EducationalDonnellan, C (2004) Protecting Our cover Cambridge MWL Print GroupJary, D Jary, J. (1999) Sociology Leicester HarperCollins PublishersWebsiteswww.identitycards.gov.ukhttp//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3568468.stmwww.news-from-newspapers.com/en/Wikipedia.org/2005/04/21/Capitalism.htmlhttp//www.no2id.net/www.publictechnology.net/modules)http//www.spy.org.uk/spyblog/2005/11/ (Mail on Sunday 27th November 2005)http//www.timesonline.co.uk