ID cards: a child's view

A Consuming Experience

Blogging, internet, software, mobile, telecomms, gadgets, technology, media and digital rights from the perspective of a consumer / user, including reviews, rants and random thoughts. Aimed at intelligent non-geeks, who are all too often unnecessarily disenfranchised by excessive use of tech jargon, this blog aims to be informative and practical without being patronising. With guides, tutorials, tips - and the occasional ever so slightly naughty observation.

Sunday, May 29, 2005

Add this post to Del.icio.us, Digg or Furl | Create Watchlist

I'm pretty vociferously anti-ID cards and I've previously explained in more detail why: I think they won't do what they're supposed to and instead will waste billions of taxpayers' money which could and should be spent much more effectively, like getting us more, better-trained and better-equipped police and security services personnel, healthcare professionals and teachers (plus of course improving the public transport system).

But even a bright 10 year old can spot the flaws in the proposed anti-terrorism UK ID card scheme.

A friend's kid heard it discussed on the radio and asked about it. My friend attempted to explain the supposed merits of ID cards as per the party Labour (and indeed Conservative) line.

The child's reaction was to say:

"But they can fake passports, so why can't terrorists copy ID cards too?"

And:

"Who has to have ID cards? Only British people? Why can't a terrorist come here from outside the UK, plant a bomb, then leave again?"

Quite.

Technorati Tags: Identity Cards, ID Cards, Government, Politics, Society, Identity Theft, Crime, Terrorism, Improbulus, A Consuming Experience, Consuming Experience

Add this post to Del.icio.us, Digg or Furl | Email this post to a friend | Edit | New

Links to this post on:

Icerocket -
Blogpulse
Bloglines
Delicious
Google Blog Search -

<$BlogBacklinkTitle$>: <$BlogBacklinkSnippet$>
posted by <$BlogBacklinkAuthor$> @ <$BlogBacklinkDateTime$>

Create link here by posting on Blogger

2 Comment(s):

Its amazing isn’t it, the tripe they try to sell us to combat issues.

I read an article about chipping passports, I’ll try and get my paws on it again, but it made me think “this is something you would find interesting.”

(By TaB, at Monday, June 06, 2005 8:37:00 AM) Edit Comment