NO2ID News No. 109

23 October 2008

++ SHARPEN THOSE PENS! ++

Our fight against the database state takes place on many fronts. The latest is the Communications Data Bill, which proposes to record - for life - the details of everyone you call or write to and what websites you visit [1].

This raises not just the prospect of a new, massively intrusive surveillance database, but - according to the Sunday Times [2] - the possibility of compulsory registration of mobile phones. Negative media coverage has forced the Home Secretary to announce further 'consultation' on the Bill in the new year and a flat denial from the Home Office on mobile phone registration.

We cannot leave it there.

Monitoring your communications is in many ways more intrusive than searching your home. It should only ever be done under warrant with good reason. The general convenience of the Home Office is a very bad reason indeed.

Do you want the state (and anyone who can gain access to the system) to have a record of your religious and political beliefs, your sexual interests and relationships, your financial and medical worries - "just in case" they ever become of interest to the authorities?

You wouldn't tolerate someone creeping into your home at any time, night and day, to go through your and your family's private things. You shouldn't put up with this.

Please write NOW to your MP - http://writetothem.com - expressing your disgust at the British government moving to continually spy on us all, and ask what he or she intends to do about it. (N.B. Please write in your own words - it is *much* more effective.)
--
Notes:

[1]
http://www.opendemocracy.net/blog/ourkingdom-theme/phil-booth/2008/08/25/the-secret-silo-for-your-familys-data
http://www.opendemocracy.net/blog/ourkingdom-theme/phil-booth/2008/10/21/the-stalker-state

[2] http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4969312.ece

What just happened?

+ Government closes youth ID opinions website +

A website launched by the government in July to find out what 16-25 year olds think of the national ID scheme has been closed. Visitors to the site are now greeted by the message "Site off-line: The mylifemyid community has now finished. Many thanks for your contribution. We will post a notification here when the report is published". Most of the comments posted on the site, that cost £76,249 to set up and maintain, were against ID cards and the National Identity Register so it will be interesting to see the promised report...

+ DPP warns of dangers of surveillance state +

Sir Ken Macdonald, the outgoing Director of Public Prosecutions, this week spoke out about the database-powered surveillance state. Macdonald warned that politicians should "take very great care to imagine the world we are creating before we build it. We might end up living with something we can't bear." Macdonald, who was delivering a Crown Prosecution Service Lecture entitled 'Coming Out Of The Shadows', called for "legislative restraint" and pointed out that "our rights are priceless".
http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/nationalnews/coming_out_of_the_shadows.html

+ Report reveals fear of crime that drives policy agenda +

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has released a report as part of their 'social evils' debate. The document entitled 'Why are fear and distrust spiralling in twenty-first century Britain?' points out that fear of crime is far worse than actual crime levels. The report states: "While crime has been falling steadily since 1995, the majority of Britons think it is rising". This leads to fear of crime and the report goes on to point out that: "Fear and distrust are linked, with research showing that levels of trust correlate with fear in society." This fear and lack of trust is what politicians play on when introducing illiberal measures such as ID cards and the expanding database and surveillance state.
Read the viewpoint at http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/pdf/2282.pdf
Also see http://www.socialevils.org.uk/

What's next?

+ Would You Like to Volunteer? +
NO2ID relies heavily upon the continued generosity of its supporters. One way you can help is by volunteering to assist in the NO2ID office (in London). We are always on the lookout for people with enthusiasm and a little spare time to help us assemble newsletters, member and information packs, and execute basic data entry tasks. The amount of time you put in is up to you - it can be as little as an hour or two per month, but is nevertheless invaluable to us. If you are interested in joining our team please email Stephanie Munro at administrator@no2id.net.

+ Consultation on Data Retention Directive +
The government has launched a consultation on the Electronic Communications Data Retention (EC Directive) Regulations. Responses should be sent by 31st October by e-mail to commsdata@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or by post to Andrew Knight, Home Office, 5th Floor, Peel Building, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.
See http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/cons-2008-transposition?view=Binary

+ New consultation on Connecting for Health and secondary uses of patient data +
"NHS Connecting for Health are gathering people's views to help them make important decisions about the ways the NHS can use information it collects about patients. Such patient data is mainly used to provide care and treatment but can also have additional uses such as research, auditing the quality and safety of care, management planning, etc. This consultation is focusing on additional uses." Responses should be sent to Chrissy Brand (FREEPOST RRXB-TTRR-HJGB, Tribal Consulting, Palatine Road, Manchester, M22 4DB) by 10th December.
See http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/research/consultation

+ LOCAL GROUPS NEWS +

The size, influence and activity of NO2ID's local group network is unique amongst single-issue campaigning and is growing all the time. Groups raise awareness of the work of NO2ID, inform their local politicians and journalists about the depth of the ID scheme and provide us with our now main method of attracting new members and supporters. Their work is vital and effective and enables us to maintain a relatively high local media presence that many campaigning groups envy. To see if there's a group in your area check our list at http://www.no2id.net/localGroups/
Or, if you're interested in starting a group yourself, please contact Matty on local.groups@no2id.net to discuss what's involved and what we have in place to support coordinators and their groups.

+ 28th October - THAMES VALLEY REGIONAL MEETING +
Tuesday, 28th October, 7pm at Reading Quaker Meeting House, 2 Church Street, Reading, Berks, RG1 2SB (http://www.reading-quakers.org.uk/pms/readingpm.shtml).
Phil Booth (National Coordinator) and Matty Mitford (Local Groups Coordinator) will be coming to Reading this month for a meeting of all NO2ID groups in the region. The meeting is open to everyone who wants to fight against ID cards and the database state in the area. We hope to establish or re-establish several groups in the region as a result of this meetings. So if your town doesn't have a group and you think you might like to start one, come along.

Come and learn how to set up a group and campaign in your area;
Meet other campaigners and share ideas;
Find out where the ID scheme and related initiatives are heading;
Find out what you can do about it.

Open to all. Free. (Collection towards cost of venue.) For more information email Matty on local.groups@no2id.net

+ HELP NEEDED - NO2ID LONDON GROUPS +
NO2ID groups in London are looking for someone to be an 'events spotter'. The idea is that this person would keep an eye on upcoming happenings at which it might be good for London groups to hold stalls. We're thinking fetes, festivals, political events, talks, community action groups, that sort of thing, but anything where we might be able to reach more potential London supporters would be excellent. It would be primarily an email based role, but London coordinators meet once every three months to discuss tactics, trade advice etc and the events spotting person would be very welcome to attend. Please email Matty Mitford on local.groups@no2id.net for more info.

+ Brighton and Hove+

+ 28th October - Brighton and Hove NO2ID Meeting +
Tuesday, 28th October, 7.30pm at the Brighton Peace and Environment Centre (BPEC) opposite Brighton Station. We will be going to the Battle of Trafalgar for an informal chat afterwards if meetings aren't your thing.

+ Cambridge +

"Taking Liberties" screening
Cambridge NO2ID and the Cafe Project (http://www.cafeproject.org/) co-hosted a very successful free showing of the acclaimed documentary "Taking Liberties" on Sunday 12th October at The Cafe on Jesus Lane. Further free showings in Cambridge are being planned - keep an eye on the newsletter for details.

+ 25th October - NO2ID Cambridge Stall +
Saturday, 25th October at 10am in the usual spot outside Cambridge Guildhall. Location Map: http://tinyurl.com/eo42r. As ever, volunteers to help very welcome - please email cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624 if you can make it.

+ 4th November - Cambridge NO2ID pub meeting (Normally 1st Wednesday of each month) +
Tuesday, 4th November, 7.30pm at the Salisbury Arms, 76 Tenison Rd, Cambridge CB1 2DW (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=cb1+2dw). For more details contact cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624. (Note: Moved to Tuesday - usually on the first Wednesday of the month, but that falls on 5th November and many will have other plans)

+ Daventry +

+ 19th November - Davnetry NO2ID 1st Meeting (2nd Wednesday of month) +
Wednesday, 19th November from 8pm (and every second Wednesday of the month thereafter) at The Saracen's Head, 1 Brook Street, Daventry, NN11 5HN. Everyone is welcome, newcomer or not, curious or committed. Please bring a friend. For further details contact Kate Megeary on (daventry@no2id.net). If you're unable to attend but are interested in the activity of the group, please join the Daventry mailing list on: http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.daventry (pending).

+ Edinburgh +

At the latest Edinburgh group meeting we were very pleased to be joined by members of the Glasgow group. We had come together to report on and discuss the joint protest in Edinburgh on 30th June at which nine NO2ID campaigners were arrested. Six of those arrested were present at the meeting and were able to give a full account of what took place.

Saturdays 1pm - 3pm - NO2ID Edinburgh street stall
Every week, weather permitting, you will find our campaigning stall at the east end of Princes Street, opposite the Balmoral Hotel. Do drop by for a chat. New volunteers - please contact John (edinburgh@no2id.net), and for more group information see http://www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/

+ Glasgow +

Most Saturdays 2pm - NO2ID Glasgow street stall
Most Saturdays there are stalls in Glasgow city centre (usually Buchanan Street) from about 2pm. Volunteers are always welcome, please contact Geraint if you would like to help: glasgow@no2id.net

+ NEW NO2ID Group for Glasgow University Students and Staff+
A new NO2ID group has been formed at Glasgow University. Staff or students interested in getting involved should contact Stephen at GU@glasgow-no2id.org.uk or join the mailing list directly at (http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/glasgow-students). The first meeting will be held on Monday 29th October at 7pm in Usige Beatha on Woodlands Road. There is a map available at (http://www.glasgowonline.co.uk/info/26603/). This is only a temporary meeting place and time until we get on our feet. If anyone knows somewhere better they can bring it up at the meeting. We will be discussing allocation of funds as well as many other exciting things, and having a few drinks... We hope as many of you can make it as possible.

Students at other universities or colleges in the city who would like to set up a similar group are encouraged to contact Geraint at Glasgow@NO2ID.net

+ Hackney +

+ 5th November - Hackney/North East London NO2ID Meeting +
Wednesday, 5th November, 7pm at the Pembury Tavern (in E8, at the junction of Amhurst Road, Pembury Road and Dalston Lane, near Hackney Downs and Hackney Central stations). The Home Secretary is thinking up ever-wackier database applications to keep an eye on the Queen's subjects (that's you and me), so we need some creative ways to spread the No2ID message in north-east London.

+ Hammersmith and Fulham +

Local coordinator, Brian Mooney is keen to hear from anyone who can help him with generating activity in the Hammersmith & Fulham area. Brian welcomes your thoughts and your questions, and can be contacted via: hammersmith@no2id.net or on 07976 414913

If you are interested in the work of the Hammersmith and Fulham group, please join the mailing list on: http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.hammersmith-and-fulham

+ Manchester +

For updates and discussion, join the Manchester NO2ID mailing list at http://manchester.no2id.net/

+ 8th November - Manchester NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 8th November, 2pm-4pm in St. Anne's Square, Manchester. We'll be running a Saturday afternoon stall in St. Ann's Square to raise awareness among the public and engage people in discussion about the National Identity Register. Newcomers, committed and curious welcome.

+ 12th November - Manchester NO2ID meeting +
Wednesday, 12th November, 7pm-9pm in the upstairs function room of the Town Hall Tavern, Tib Lane, Manchester. Sadly this venue is not wheelchair-accessible; please contact us if you have accessibility needs at http://manchester.no2id.net/contact

+ Oxford +

+ 8th November - NO2ID Oxford Street Stall +
Saturday, 8th November, 11am-1pm on Cornmarket Street, Oxford. It helps if you can let us know that you are coming (oxford@no2id.net)

+ 13th November - Oxford NO2ID Meeting +
Thursday, 13th November, 8pm at the Mitre on the High Street in Oxford.

+ 21st November - NO2ID Oxford Student Event +
Friday, 21st November - a joint event with the Oxford Libertarian Society (http://oxlib.org.uk) and Oxford Students for Liberty (http://oxfordstudentsforliberty.org). It will consist of a short talk followed by some discussions. Precise venue and timing to be announced when we have them...

+ Plymouth +

+ 2nd November - Pylmouth NO2ID Meeting (1st Sunday of month) +
Sunday, 2nd November from 7-9pm and every first Sunday of the month thereafter at The Chestnut Tree Cafe, 13 The Parade, Barbican, Plymouth, PL1. These meetings will serve as a catalyst and we'll be working hard to make sure there's a plan of action resulting from every meeting. If you can't attend but are still interested in the activity of the group please join the mailing list on http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.plymouth or contact Simon (the coordinator) on plymouth@no2id.net

+ Scarborough +

+ 3rd November - Free screening of the award-winning documentary film Taking Liberties +
Monday, 3 November 2008, 7.30pm at Performance Studio 2, Scarborough Campus, University of Hull, Filey Road, Scarborough, YO11 3AZ. Performance Studio 2 is reached via the side entrance underneath the arch opposite the security lodge. Free admission - to book tickets email j.beddoe@hull.ac.uk or phone 01723 357141. Taking Liberties is an unflinching inquiry into the systematic erosion of our basic liberties and traditional rights amidst a climate of fear fostered by the media.

To find out more visit: www.no2idScarborough.org.uk or email scarborough@no2id.net

+ Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells +

Stalls continue - if you want to help (and we'd like you to!) then please do drop us a line at tunbridge.wells@no2id.net.

+ 6th November - Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells NO2ID Meeting +
Thursday, 6th November, 8pm at The Compasses, 45, Little Mount Sion, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1Y.

+ Watford +

+ 4th November - Watford NO2ID Meeting +
Tuesday, 4th November, 7.15pm in the Estcourt Tavern, 25 Estcourt Road, Watford WD17 2PY. An application has been made to set up a stall in Watford town centre and we'll need some people to volunteer to sign shoppers up to the petition and give out leaflets.

+ Yorkshire +

+ 25th October - NO2ID Yorkshire Regional Stalls Workshop +
Saturday, 25th October, 12pm at the Private function room , Victoria Hotel (pub), 28 Great George St, Leeds, LS1 3DL. NO2ID groups across Yorkshire will be meeting to discuss strategies and tactics on how to effectively communicate the threat of ID cards and the �Database State' on street stalls. Following this informal workshop meeting we will be heading out into Leeds to put what has been learnt into practice. Anybody wishing to help out on street stalls or find out more about this part of our campaign is welcome to come along (no prior experience necessary!). Contact: Yorkshire@no2id.net / 07817605162

"ID" in the news

+ Foreign cops ask for UK identity data - The Inquirer 22/10/08 +
The UK'S Serious and Organised Crime Agency is talking with foreign police about letting them access the National Identity Register, the identity card database that will contain the biometric records of every adult in Britain.
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/10/21/foreign-cops-ask-uk-identity

+ Identity minister moots ID cards on driving licences - ZDNet 21/10/08 +
A Home Office minister has mooted turning UK driving licences into ID cards, sparking accusations the national biometric database will be forced in by the back door. Speaking today at the Biometrics Conference 2008, identity minister Meg Hillier said there was "nothing to stop" drivers' licences or other documents from being designated to work as ID cards.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39523794,00.htm

+ Home Office trying to persuade unions to drop opposition to ID cards - The Guardian 20/10/08 +
The Home Office is in active talks with trade unions in an attempt to persuade them to abandon opposition to the imminent introduction of compulsory ID cards for airport workers.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/oct/20/idcards

+ Govt ponders proof-of-ID law for future phone purchases - The Register 20/10/08 +
The bother of choosing between an 18-month contract or a high up-front price may soon be the least of your worries when buying a new mobile phone, because you may soon be required to prove your identity before you're allowed a new handset.
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/10/20/passport_phone/

+ Passports will be needed to buy mobile phones - The Sunday Times 19/10/08 +
Everyone who buys a mobile telephone will be forced to register their identity on a national database under government plans to extend massively the powers of state surveillance.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4969312.ece

+ A solution in search of a problem - The Economist 16/10/08 +
Ministerial enthusiasm for a £4.7 billion national identity-card scheme (and the database that would power it) has elicited warnings about cost overruns and data-security risks from sober commentators and comparisons with the Gestapo from more colourful ones.
http://www.economist.com/world/britain/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12432440&fsrc=rss

+ God help us. This will soon be a country more spied upon than Communist East Germany under the Stasi - Daily Mail 16/10/08 +
We have more CCTV cameras than any other country in the world. Our DNA database, which comprises four million people, many of whom have committed no crime at all, is also bigger than that of any other country. Identity cards are in the pipeline.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1078026/STEPHEN-GLOVER-This-soon-country-spied-Communist-East-Germany.html

+ EU: Public consultation on the Internet of Things - epractice.eu 14/10/08 +
The European Commission has launched a public consultation to prepare its future Communication on the Internet of Things (IoT). The consultation deadline is 28 November 2008. The Commission�s Communication on the Internet of Things is planned to be released in the second quarter of 2009. It will propose a policy approach addressing the entire range of political and technological issues related to the move from RFID and sensing technologies to the Internet of Things.
http://www.epractice.eu/document/5118

+ ID cards plan in crisis as the 'guinea pigs' revolt - The Guardian 12/10/08 +
Plans to build support for identity cards by introducing them among 'guinea pig' groups, such as airport staff and students, are in crisis after 10,000 airline pilots vowed to take legal action to block them and opposition swept through Britain's universities and councils.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/oct/12/idcards

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter - Editor(newsletter@no2id.net) )

Publication details: © NO2ID 2010 - This document may be freely redistributed in one-to-one communications or physical copies as long as it is reproduced in its entirety including this notice. It may not be mass-mailed without the prior permission of NO2ID.
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