UK Can't Read Its Own ID Cards 205
An anonymous reader writes "Despite the introduction of ID cards last November, it has emerged that Britain has no readers that are able to read the cards' microchips, which contain the person's fingerprints and other biometric information. With cops and border guards unable to use the cards to check a person's identity, critics are calling the £4.7bn scheme 'farcical' and a 'waste of time.'"
No readers? No surprise! (Score:5, Insightful)
While I won't go as far as being paranoid about "it was always the governments plan and they just want the data on everyone", it doesn't surprise me that our government isn't even capable of introducing both halves of an ID scheme at the same time.
Until they fix it they've basically just introduced an over-expensive photo ID. Well done, Labour!
Re:Look at Belgium (Score:5, Insightful)
*puts mayonnaise on his fries*
Joking aside, it seems like the Belgians have done this right: You need a code to access the information from the passport, similar to your bank/creditcard. Not perfect, but at least it isn't readable by everyone.
Re:Where exactly are these cards? (Score:5, Insightful)
Why is this news? (Score:4, Insightful)
They've only just started finalising and using these cards. Why is it surprising that there are no readers around?
It's akin to saying that Blu-Ray or DVDs were a waste of time because initially there were no players for them - Hello, you need to wait for people to catch up, especially if the equipment is expensive (and although they're not consumer products, the same rules apply - places need to wait for grants or work out their budgets before buying or using said machines).
Besides, practically no-one has these cards yet - and I doubt anyone will for a while, especially since they cost cash to get (It was ~£50 last I heard)
Re:privacy (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:t Britain has no readers that are able... (Score:2, Insightful)
can't we just take them round to the Russian embassy?
The embassy of USA would be more appropriate - that's where all this crap is coming from.
Re:Where exactly are these cards? (Score:1, Insightful)
Maybe they will then make the cards yellow so they stand out. Then perhaps the cards could be shaped into a stylish star that they can put on their clothes.
Hmmm.
Re:No readers? No surprise! (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm even more cynical than that. While the government will probably get some data on people, judging from other such projects that have gone before it will be extremely poorly coordinated and it will be a far bigger security risk than anything else because they won't be able to keep a lid on the data. It just strikes me that a lot of companies have got cosy with the government, promising them things that are almost certainly not going to work in order to fleece them of billions of pounds. Billions of borrowed pounds in the current climate, that is.
Re:Kids these days (Score:3, Insightful)
Can't you see the irony here?
The government does something no one wants, acting as if it knows best, then fucks the implementation up in ways few thought about making it worthless for the time being. It's like the drunk who swears he is able to drive, refuses to give up his keys, then gets into an accident before he gets out of the parking spot.
Re:No readers? No surprise! (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm more convinced by "it was always the government's plan and they just wanted to dole out juicy contracts to the private sector."
Re:No readers? No surprise! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Look at Belgium (Score:3, Insightful)
No, not everyone, just the people with the desire to get the code... which won't be hard.
The readers aren't important (Score:2, Insightful)
On the other hand, there isn't much point having the readers unless there's a reason to suspect the bearer's identity. As the scheme is voluntary, those with suspect identities won't be the first in the queue for the cards. As law-enforcement will only interested in those without cards, then there's not much point buying in them buying readers. That doesn't, on the other hand, invalidate the cards, which do still serve a purpose.
At present, the standard identification document is the gas bill which, naturally, discriminates against tenants, people without a gas supply and people who have pre-pay meters (usually the poor). The cards therefore improve the ability of poor people to pay for the privilege of 'interacting with government', and thus improve both 'social mobility' and 'engagement'. In addition, a card with a picture on it has to be arguably more reliable than a piece of paper that can be borrowed out of a dustbin by anyone with a mind to.
Re:Look at Belgium (Score:2, Insightful)
Here in america we just slap in an unencoded RFID chip readable by anyone driving by. They tell us this makes us safer and more secure.
Google will fix it (Score:3, Insightful)
The thing that worries me is that the downturn means that people now working at Google, Microsoft etc. will be released into the community and will then get Government jobs. One thing worse than pervasive Govt paranoia and spying is efficient pervasive government paranoia and spying.
Re:privacy (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:No readers? No surprise! (Score:1, Insightful)