Is Government planning to sell our data?, David Nikel

David Nikel — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:05:47 +0000

David Nikel (Barcode Nation): On 29 January the EEMA (European Association for e-identity and Security) and the Digital Identity Forum are holding a seminar entitled "The Business Use and Applications of the UK National Identity Card"

Have a read of this from their website:

Over a period of time, public opinion, as measured by opinion polls, appears to have shifted away from support for the scheme towards opposition. This appears to have become more of a concern since the disclosure of the loss of 15 million records by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

However, this could change if a commercial and business value of this card could be established, what opportunities are there for this unique and accredited form of identity to be exploited?

It is rumoured that there are 250 commercial applications spawned from the introduction of the Belgian Identity Card from car insurance to Access and Identity Management (AIM), learn how some of these were introduced and of their success.

HOLD ON A MINUTE! Let me check the official Home Office website on ID cards:

The data will only be used to accurately determine your identity.

and

The information we would take about you, and what we would do with it, is strictly limited by laws designed to protect you.

Information will only be held for the purposes of proving identity. Sensitive information like medical records will not be held.

So what exactly is going on here? Is this businesses getting together on the off-chance the Government might change their minds at some point in the future? Or are there plans afoot to sell our private data once the ID card system is up and running?

We need answers.

Cross-posted from Barcode Nation. OurKingdom and openDemocracy are proud sponsor of the Convention on Modern Liberty which will look at this and other issues.

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Is Government planning to sell our data?, David Nikel