NO2ID News No. 84
8 November 2007
ID INTERROGATIONS BEGIN IN EARNESTA year later than intended and with very little publicity, the government's network of ID interrogation centres is starting to open for business. The Identity & Passport Service (IPS) website now lists around 20 towns and cities with open centres, of the 60 that you've already helped us track down:
http://www.no2id.net/getInvolved/idCentres.phpPlease help us find the rest, and warn anyone over the age of 16 who needs to apply for their first adult passport to do so quickly*. The National Identity Register (NIR) isn't built yet, and IPS won't start fingerprinting trials until next year at the earliest so there's still time to avoid automatic registration on the NIR.
If you are renewing your passport and get called in for 'interview', PLEASE GET IN TOUCH - send an e-mail to
national.coordinator@no2id.net. We are eager for first hand reports of the actual process, which may give us some clues as to how we can further frustrate and resist the system.
--
*Get them to visit
http://www.RenewForFreedom.org for more information, or download our fact sheet.
++ STOP PRESS ++
NEW DEBATE ON FRICTION.TVWith 1 million new profiles added to the DNA database in the last year alone, NO2ID National Coordinator, Phil Booth, speaks out against the arbitrary expansion and lifelong retention of this most personal of data on Friction.tv at
http://friction.tv/debate.php?debateno=1351Please chip in with your views and comments - and why not start your own debate? Videos can be uploaded from a webcam, or even a mobile phone.
What's next?Comment on government's 'Service Transformation Agreement'
Last month the government released the blandly-named "Service
Transformation Agreement" which further lays out plans to abolish
privacy. Each government department is listed with its data-sharing and
identity management strategy. For instance the Ministry of Justice "is
leading a cross-government programme to deliver a package of measures
over the next 3-5 years to overcome current barriers to information
sharing within the public sector". Meanwhile the Department for Work
and Pensions is engaged in "using and supporting Tell-Us-Once in
developing and testing identity management service propositions - this
includes research on data-sharing legislative frameworks". The full
document has been posted on-line at the 'Comment On This' website,
where each clause can be commented on.
http://www.commentonthis.com/servicetransformation/24th November - BIRMINGHAM / WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL MEETINGPhil Booth, National Coordinator, will be coming to Birmingham this November for a meeting of all NO2ID groups in the West Midlands, open to everyone who wants to do something in the fight against ID cards and the database state on their patch. 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, and what you can do about it.
DATE & TIME: Saturday 24th November 2007, 10:30am for 11:00am start.
VENUE: The Priory Rooms, Friends Meeting House, 40 Bull Street, Birmingham B4 6AF [Heading on after 13:00 to The Old Contemptibles, 175 Edmund Street for lunch/beer and further planning.]
Local groups newsWe now have groups in 36 of the 69 locations of ID interrogation centres (see
www.no2id.net/getInvolved/idCentres.php). If you can help to set up a local group in one of the remaining towns then please contact our Local Groups liaisons Matty and Deborah at (
local.groups@no2id.net). A full list of local groups can be found at
www.no2id.net/localGroupsSaturdays 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/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.netPassport interrogations (Glasgow)Glasgow NO2ID are keen to hear from anyone who has been summoned to attend the interrogation centre at Blythswood House after applying for their first passport. Please contact Geraint at
glasgow@no2id.net or Charlie at
myspace.com/no2idglasgow9th November - Cambridge NO2ID at Caius QuestionsFriday, 9th November, 8.30pm at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge CB2 1TA(
http://www.cai.cam.ac.uk/directions.php). Cambridge NO2ID coordinator Andrew Watson will join representatives of Cambridge student political societies on the panel for "Caius Questions", modelled on BBC's Question Time. All welcome.
10th November - Manchester NO2ID Street StallSaturday, 10th November 1-3pm in St. Anne's Square. The main objectives of the afternoon will be to raise awareness among the public, engage people in discussion about the NIR, and collect petitions for the NO2ID petition to keep people in touch with the campaign. We'll meet in the square itself at 1pm to set up shop; feel free to join us to lend a hand or just chat. You don't need any experience or equipment, just a bit of time to spare and a friendly smile! For more information email
manchester@no2id.net or call 07982 814441.
13th November - Staines NO2ID MeetingTuesday, 13th November 8pm at the Links Pub in Ashford (opposite Bonjour petrol station and golf course). For more information contact
staines@no2id.net13th and 27th November - Glasgow NO2ID fortnightly meetingTuesday, 13th November and 27th November at 8pm in Mono. Glasgow NO2ID's regular fortnightly meetings. All welcome. Map:
http://www.glasgow-no2id.org.uk/meeting.html14th November - Manchester NO2ID MeetingWednesday, 14th November 7-9pm 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 our monthly meetings we discuss the state of the NO2ID campaign, what we've been up to recently and where we're going in future. Everyone is welcome, newcomer or not, curious or committed. The Town Hall Tavern serves reasonably-priced, good quality food until 9pm so you don't need to pop home for tea - you can even order your meal brought up to the function room. For more information email
manchester@no2id.net or call 07982 814441.
20th November - Home Affairs Committee 'A SURVEILLANCE SOCIETY?' Evidence SessionTuesday, 20 November 2007 at 10.15 am in Committee room 8, House of Commons. Witnesses: Tim Wright, Chief Information Officer, Department for Children, Schools and Families; Richard Jeavons, Director, IT Service Implementation, Department of Health; Stephen Hickey, Director General for the Safety, Service Delivery and Logistics Group, Department for Transport; and Steve Burton, Deputy Director of Transport Policing & Enforcement, Transport for London; Clare Moriarty, Constitution Director, Ministry of Justice; and John Suffolk, Government Chief Information Officer. The session can be watched at
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/24th November - NO2ID Brighton Social EventSaturday 24th November 3pm-6pm at the Lord Nelson on Trafalgar Street. In the coming months, Brighton & Hove NO2ID like to help students at the Universities of Brighton & Sussex start their own NO2ID societies. We'd like to work with local politicians to introduce a motion to the council declaring Brighton & Hove's opposition to ID cards, and the difficulties they would cause for local government. Most of all, we'd like to get more people involved in the campaign so that by the time the next election comes (it may not be now, but it'll be on us sooner than you think!) we can really get lobbying, force candidates to take a stance on the issue, and work towards electing a government that will repeal the Identity Cards Act 2006 and put an end to Labour's ID cards folly for good. To kick-start these plans, we're organising a social event. It's open to all, and is the perfect opportunity to ask questions, volunteer or even become a paid-up member of NO2ID. If nothing else, we'd love you to come and meet us, enjoy a chat over a drink and have some nibbles! There's no obligation to do anything at all, but we hope you might want to. There'll be a buffet and entry is free.
24th November - NO2ID Cambridge StallSaturday, 24th November, 10am at Cambridge Guildhall. Location Map:
http://tinyurl.com/eo42r. Cambridge NO2ID'S next street stall will be in the usual spot. As ever, volunteers to help very welcome - please email
cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624 if you can make it.
5th December - Cambridge NO2ID pub meeting (1st Wednesday of each month)Wednesday, 5th December, 7.30pm at the Free Press (pub), 7 Prospect Row, Cambridge CB1 1DU (
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=cb1+1du). Cambridge NO2ID's informal pub meetings are on the first Wednesday of each month. Join us at 7:30pm on Wednesday 5th December . For more details contact
cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624.
5th December - Southampton NO2ID Meeting (1st Wednesday of each month)Wednesday, 5th December at 8:00 pm in the Dolphin Pub in St Denys. For more information contact southampton@no2id.net
9th December - NO2ID stall Swiss Cottage (Joint Initiative by Southwark Kensington & Chelsea and Camden)On 4th November three groups manned a stall at Swiss Cottage and collected signatures and donations. We will repeat the same exercise on Sunday 9th December. If you live in London and you are free on 9th December, please come and join us. For more information email
camden@no2id.net,
kensington@no2id.net or
southwark@no2id.net________________________________
What just happened?Glasgow City Council considers anti-ID motionOn 1st November Glasgow City Council rejected a motion against ID cards and the National Identity Register. The motion focussed on the adverse fiscal impact that integration with the National Identity Register would have on council services. Not one of Labour's 45 councillors was prepared to stand up to defend the ID scheme or voice any support for it. Instead, Cllr. Coleman (Lab) proposed that the council take "no action". The amendment was carried 40-31, with 4 abstentions. Speaking after the vote, Cllr. Stuart Clay said: "It was disappointing that the administration did not support the motion, but by proposing "no action" they seemed to imply they were uncomfortable about the UK Government's proposals." Geraint Bevan, NO2ID Scotland co-ordinator, said: "There is no support for the Home Office's identity tax in Glasgow. There is no support for it in Scotland. If the UK Government do not accept this reality, we will see a repeat of the poll tax fiasco."
MEP helps Cambridge NO2ID campaignersTom Wise, UKIP MEP for the East of England, joined NO2ID campaigners on their street stall in Cambridge on Saturday 3rd November. Wise said: "The last time we had ID cards in the UK was during the Second World War, and they were scrapped soon after. This is one of the few countries in the EU that does NOT require us to carry ID of any description; that freedom is one we must preserve."
David Blunkett loses ID cards debate in LetchworthThe former Home Secretary, the political architect of the ID scheme, defended it at a public debate on Tuesday 6th November - and lost. He and Simon Carr, political sketch writer at The Independent, debated the motion "Law-abiding Britons have nothing to fear from identity cards" at an event organised by David's Bookshop in Letchworth. Before the debate a slim majority of the 160-strong audience said they disagreed with the motion. After both sides had put their points of view, the number opposed had increased noticeably. Mr Blunkett apparently still believes that biometric identification is completely infallible and that the ID card database can be made completely accurate (the "clean database" fallacy) and invulnerable to insider fraud, data theft or external cyber-attacks. He told the audience that he has no fear of people knowing all about him - and was selling copies of his autobiography to prove it.
Southampton NO2ID on the streetSouthampton NO2ID held its first street stall outside Waitrose in Portswood, Southampton on Saturday 3rd November. Group co-ordinator Ian Thomas said: "There was a lot of interest from passers by many of whom were keen to know what the case against ID cards was. I think a few minds were changed. Several people pointed out the irony of us asking for their name and address, but that too was able to be used as we pointed out that their information would be held in accordance with the Data Protection Act and that we were not forcing them to sign up!" The group intends to have another stall plus walking billboards in the town centre in the run-up to Christmas.
Worcester NO2ID up and runningThis week Worcester NO2ID held its first meeting. Group co-ordinator Luke Albarin said: "Our meeting was amidst the swirls and twirls of Brown's musings about ID. We've been on local BBC radio, had online and print cover in the local press, and we've challenged our pro-ID Labour MP to face his Conservative and Lib Dem opponents in a public debate." The group plans to set up Saturday street stalls in Worcester, and then Redditch, the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's constituency. For more information about the Worcester group contact
worcester@no2id.netSerious Crime Act 2007 receives Royal AssentOn 30th October the Serious Crime Act 2007 received Royal Assent. The Act clears the way for large-scale data-matching. Read Spy Blog's analysis of the Act and the distressing lack of opposition to it at (
http://tinyurl.com/34qw9f).
ID scheme cost report publishedThe third report to parliament under s.37 of the Identity Cards Act says that there are "considerable uncertainties" in its estimates. The Home Office chose to release the report on the same day as the IPCC report into Jean Charles de Menezes was published. Read the report at:
http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/downloads/2007-11-06_Identity_Cards_Scheme_Cost_Report_November_2007.pdfThe price of privacyOn 1 November, Germany started issuing second-generation ePassports. As well as the bearer's name, date of birth and photo, the RFID chips now contain two fingerprints. The very same day, the enterprising city of Lübeck launched a new product - aluminium sheaths to keep the data safe from freelance scanners. Yours for an extra 6 euro when you pick up your passport.
________________________________
"ID" in the newsTackling a global identity crisis - epractice.eu 6/11/07A new international initiative, the Centre for Ethical Identity Assurance (CEIA), involving industry, government and academic partners has been launched to address the growing problem of identity fraud, the demand for greater identity assurance and the need to develop common standards and practices in this area. The CEIA will operate under the aegis of the Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility (AIM Global), a global trade association representing manufacturers and vendors of identity verification technologies.http://www.epractice.eu/document/4042Security minister defends ID cards, longer detention - The Register 5/11/07
The Liberal Democrat party has attacked the proposed National ID card scheme, on the grounds that the government cannot effectively implement simpler plans such as passport interviews. But the new government security minister has mounted a spirited defence.http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/05/lib_dems_n_admiral_lord_west_on_security_terror/Spine to be shut for two day 'refresh' - e-Health Insider 1/11/07
Connecting for Health (CfH) and BT have confirmed that the NHS Spine will be unavailable when it is taken down for a major upgrade from next Friday evening until Sunday morning (9-11 November). The Department of Health agency describes the refresh of software and hardware as ‘unusual’ and ‘unlikely’ to occur again in the future. A practice ‘refresh’ of the Spine has already been carried out as a dry run in a recent technical rehearsal.http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/3176/spine_to_be_shut_for_two_day_refresh US: Is Real ID plan on its deathbed? - cnet news 2/11/07
The U.S. government's controversial plan to outfit all Americans with uniform electronic identification cards--officially known as Real ID--may be on its deathbed, opponents of the program charged this week.
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9809992-7.htmlWhat happened to the Crosby review? - Ideal Government 31/10/07
So why hasn’t all that promising hard work by Sir James Crosby for Gordon Brown seen the light of day? Remember, he was looking into what Britain needs from ID management from a public-private business point of view.http://www.idealgovernment.com/index.php/blog/what_happened_to_the_crosby_review/Clegg vows to defy ID cards law - The Guardian 31/10/07
Nick Clegg, the odds-on favourite to become Liberal Democrat leader, yesterday announced that he will break the law and refuse to provide details of his identity if the government presses ahead with plans to make ID cards compulsory.http://politics.guardian.co.uk/libdems/story/0,,2202171,00.htmlGovernment orders review of data sharing - ComputerWorldUK 26/10/07
The government has ordered a review of data sharing by both public and private sector bodies. The move was announced by prime minister Gordon Brown in a speech at the University of Westminster focused on civil liberties issues. Brown acknowledged that there is "continuing debate about identity cards", although procurement for the controversial £5.4bn ID cards scheme has begun and eight firms have now been shortlisted as potential suppliers.http://www.computerworlduk.com/management/government-law/legislation/news/index.cfm?newsid=5876ID cards will be secure, insists Home Office - silicon.com 25/10/07
The Home Office has defended the UK ID cards scheme after security expert Frank Abagnale - a one-time confidence trickster made famous by the Steven Spielberg film, Catch Me If You Can - said the scheme should be scrapped if the government cannot ensure it is secure.http://www.silicon.com/publicsector/0,3800010403,39168938,00.htm
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