The UK civil liberties monitor

Poll Predicts Millions to March Against ID Cards

A new opinion poll by independent research group yougov shows that 61% of people support ID Cards in principle. This is way down from the previously claimed 80%.

Almost half of those surveyed objected to the proposals in the draft Bill to force innocent citizens to keep the Government informed of their address. Other measures in the draft Bill such as being fined for not telling the Government of a lost card were fiercely opposed.

It seems that the more the British people learn about Blunkett's plans the angrier they get.

The poll found opposition to compulsory ID Cards was so strong that almost five million British citizens are prepared to join protest marches. In addition, a massive three million people would be prepared to take part in civil disobedience in order to scupper the oppressive plans.

Opposition was particular strong amongst those aged under thirty where 34% were "strongly opposed" to the plans.

Commenting on the results Simon Davies of Privacy International said: "What this survey suggests is that the government is staring down the barrel of another Poll Tax revolt, but on a larger scale."

Full story at ePolitix.com.

Detailed poll results (pdf format) at: Privacy International

PS: If you're in London, don't forget the public meeting this afternoon.

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Public Meeting on ID Cards - Glasgow, May 20th

The more that people learn about the Government's Identity Card plans the more worried they get.

The latest public meeting to be announced will be in Glasgow - one of the locations chosen by Westminster for testing biometric technology.

The organisers say:

We are a new group that came together because we found out that Glasgow was going to be one of the trial sites for the biometric ID card scheme and we felt that this was a serious threat to our civil liberties.

We have started educating ourselves about the issue, produced a leaflet, and have called a public meeting on Thursday 20th May, 7pm, at the printworks social centre, 58 Albion St, in the merchant city (0141 552 4551) to try and get more people involved in the campaign and to inform people of what we have found out.

Thousands of leaflets have so far been distributed and information is being collected and stockpiled in the printworks social centre for future use during the campaign.

We have started having regular meetings every Thursday at 7pm at printworks and we would really welcome anyone else who wanted to get involved.

Their website is at:
http://www.glasgow-autonomy.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid;=1

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Blair to Rush Through ID Cards

The Independent reports that Blair is planning a short autumn session of Parliament. This is to allow a clear run to next year's General Election.

In the limited time available, Blair has reportedly asked Ministers to prioritise two Bills: The Europe Bill and David Blunkett's discredited ID Card Bill.

So expect every political trick in the book to be used to get the Bill through both Houses with a minimum of reasoned debate.

It is often said that rushed legislation is bad legislation. When legislation starts out as badly as Blunkett's ID Card scheme and is then rushed it can only get worse.

The imposition of ID Cards on innocent British citizens is a major constitutional change for which the Government has no mandate. Any vote on such a controversial issue must be a free vote.

To rush it through Parliament in this way would be an insult not just to the British public but also to democracy.

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EVENT: Mistaken Identity

Privacy International has organised a free public meeting to discuss the issues behind ID Cards. This will take place in London on the afternoon of Wednesday May 19th.

This will be an opportunity to hear the debate on ID Cards first hand. If you want to know more about the Government's plans and the effect they'll have on you, do try to go along.

Since the event's free it's likely to fill up quickly - I suggest booking a place early.

More details at:
http://www.privacyinternational.org/conference/missingid/

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ID Day

The Home Office has launched its draft Bill on the imposition of compulsory national Identity Cards on innocent British citizens. You can read it here (pdf format):

http://www.privacyinternational.org/issues/idcard/uk/id-card-draft-404.pdf

Meanwhile, Privacy International has published an independent report that totally destroys the Government's case for ID Cards. The report - based on facts and figures, not fear and hype - shows that there is no demonstrable link between the imposition of ID Cards and a reduction in terror. Interim report here (pdf format):

http://www.privacyinternational.org/issues/idcard/uk/id-terrorism.pdf

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Royal Society Questions Identity Cards

The Earl of Selborne, chair of the Royal Society's Science in Society Committee, has expressed concern over the Government's plans for compulsory national Identity Cards. He warned the public not to "sleepwalk into technological future".

He was particularly concerned by the possibility of functionality creep resulting in de facto compulsion to carry. He said:

"...as more organisations find them of use in confirming identity it may effectively become impossible to operate in society without one - compulsion by default."

Royal Society Press Release here

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ID Card Trials to Start Next Week

The BBC reports that ID Card trials will begin next week.

The pilot scheme will involve 10,000 volunteers and will compare the effectiveness of three different forms of biometric identifier - facial dimensions, iris scans and fingerprints.

The start of the pilot is expected to coincide with the launch of the Government's draft ID Card Bill.

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