Human rights committee ID cards concern

It looks as though the parliamentary human rights committee, chaired by Labour MP Jean Corston, does not share her opinion of ID cards.

The committee says the government's plans raise serious concerns and

"also sharply criticised ministers for claiming that their ID card legislation is compatible with human rights conventions without giving any explanation to support the claim."

The Home Office have dismissed the committee's concerns and said they'll "respond in due course" ie when they feel like it and slipped into the midst of a busy news day or in an obscure place in a low level report. Given that Ms Corston is in favour of ID cards, you can be sure the Home Office had plenty of notice that the committee had taken a negative perspective and were well prepared to spin the news.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record yet again:

1. What problem does your proposed solution (ID cards) solve?
A: Lots allegedly - terrorism, immigration, benefit fraud, social cohesion etc - all ill defined.
2. What architecture has your proposed solution got - what does it look like?
A: Complicated - high tech cards, massive database which no computer scientist in the world could secure, decentralised networked registration centres, huge numbers of decentralised verification devices for police, GPs etc.
3. How well does it solve your problem(/s)?
A: Not at all and indeed, if it is security we're concerned about, it can actually make us less secure by creating the illusion of security without backing it up with real security. If we think we've solved a problem, we will fail to take the action really needed to solve that problem.
4. How can it fail and what other problems does it create?
A: It can fail in many ways and cause lots of other problems - errors in database, failure of remote verification and registration devices, unreliable biometric technology etc etc. As Bruce Schneier says, "What matters is how the system might fail when used by someone intent on subverting that system: how it fails naturally, how it can be made to fail, and how failures might be exploited."
5. How much does it cost?
A: Billions of pounds.
6. Is it worth it?
A: No, the money could be more effectively spent on [well trained] extra police, security service, customs and immigration staff.