ID cards at long last

Nope. I’m still dead against the idea of ID ‘cards’, ‘digital’ even more so. The ultimate surveillance device.. and vulnerable to cyber attack.

With the recent experiences of the Co-op and M &S, and JLR likely to be unable to restart production for months I don’t understand why more people aren’t saying ‘whoa, just hold on a minute…’

I’m not arguing this one in the face of majority approval. There are times when I feel quite glad that that I won’t be around for many years longer..

escaped

A phone would be more secure though, wouldn't it? No one can steal my id without scanning my fingerprint.

No. Not if some thieving scumbag on a bike takes it off you.

REKA

It will take years. What will happen to the many, mainly elderly, who doubt have a smart phone? And it will cost billions.

I believe that, as it stands, only people seeking employment would need ID.

What worries me is that it would only be legitimate employers who would bother with ID cards. The vast black economy of drug dealers, people traffickers etc would be unaffected.

It would open new vistas for false IDs, identity theft and all the other ills of online data scams.

Mt61

escaped

A phone would be more secure though, wouldn't it? No one can steal my id without scanning my fingerprint.

No. Not if some thieving scumbag on a bike takes it off you.

Oh yes! Unless they chop my thumb off at the same time, they won't get access to my details on my phone!!

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I think Tony Blair is going to make a lot of money from this, or so I’ve read.

That alone makes me not want ID cards.

How much is it going to cost? We don’t even have joined up patient notes from one hospital area to another on the NHS. Also I don’t see how it will stop illegal migrants. If anything it will make them more prone to join the job black market where they will be prone to exploitation by unscrupulous employers.

I'm a "tin hatter" on this one.
It's a no from me.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I had to laugh. My cousin just messaged me “so rubber boats of unknowns turn up on the shores and as a taxpayer suddenly I'm the problem? Foxtrot Oscar.”

He or she must be cut from the same cloth as yourself then.

There will be many who agree with you Maizie, but who don't have the energy to argue with the people who label those who disagree as criminal or tin hatters.

New smartphones are expensive and reconditioned old ones might not have all the features necessary. Then there's the question of absent or unreliable wifi, and also a phone can be stolen or lost or broken. It's also unfair to burden people who are not tech-savvy with the bother of learning to use a smartphone. Has the government never heard of the digital divide or doesn't it care?

The thing is - it is the future and we have to go with it if it happens.

Maybe the government should then subsidise the purchase of a smart phone for pensioners. I'm serious, we can't just shelve the whole thing for a few people. £65 for a samsung would do it. A passport costs £107 by post, to put things in perspective.

15SueDonim

I’ve just read that initially, it’ll be for working age people only. Part of an effort to clamp down on black economy jobs.

The unscrupulous employers of the black economy will continue to employ illegal workers so they will just ignore the I.D. check. For me it's a No to Digital I.D,s so I must be a tin hatter and proud of it. The difference between those of us being labelled as conspiracy idiots and those with heads in the sand is about 6 months.

Unscrupulous employers who currently use

It must be just me then who has been known, on occasion, to have left the house with a phone that's about to run out of battery? If we're to have them then I would like belt and braces of a physical card too.

Unknowingly I should add, I'm not a complete idiot.

For me it's not going to work to stop illegal immigrants,the first to be issued them will be the born and bred here,those coming by boat ,by all accounts,have no ID at all .
Everything we do on our phones etc is watched anyway,look at home insurance,go onto Facebook and there's an advert for it..so will it not be easily accessible for hackers,.

escaped

A phone would be more secure though, wouldn't it? No one can steal my id without scanning my fingerprint.

Errrrm......you personally (ie your body) will be much more secure if there's no question of scanning your fingerprint.

Yep...there's definitely a noticeable number of people who are out there and would think "Not a problem - if I've got a finger from her...then I can find a way to use it to get a fingerprint" (at least for a few days iyswim). You've just identified that you're probably a nice person - and nice people don't think just what lengths someone else might go to.....

I'm for it except adding my bank details

There's a requirement to check that people are allowed to work here already.
I don't see any difference in terms of validity.

MaizieD

Nope. I’m still dead against the idea of ID ‘cards’, ‘digital’ even more so. The ultimate surveillance device.. and vulnerable to cyber attack.

With the recent experiences of the Co-op and M &S, and JLR likely to be unable to restart production for months I don’t understand why more people aren’t saying ‘whoa, just hold on a minute…’

I’m not arguing this one in the face of majority approval. There are times when I feel quite glad that that I won’t be around for many years longer..

Your life is already on your smartphone you and be tracked and hacked today it would just add a more accessible ID.

My concern is the NHS that is very computer dependant if that was ever hacked it would be a real catastrophe.

96% of people in the UK own a smartphone with that dropping to:67% for over 65’s - unlikely most of them will need to prove they are legal for work.
Stats from USwitch.

The PM is making an announcement on this around 11pm today apparently.

I don’t mind having one as long as it’s secure. Not sure that it will stop illegal working though because if the rogue employers don’t insist on a National Insurance Number then I’m certain they won’t ask to see an id card.

REKA

It will take years. What will happen to the many, mainly elderly, who doubt have a smart phone? And it will cost billions.

Yes it will take years and I'm sure they will start with younger adults. I don't think grannies and grandpas are the demographic they are particularly concerned about.

I have no objection to the UK joining those countries where ID is already required but at this stage I need more information. For example, is the legislation for the whole of the UK or do the devolved governments have to opt in or out? While digital ID will be no problem for the younger generation who are more likely to use their phones for everything, I would want a real card as back up and I hope that will be an option and if the sole purpose is to reduce immigration, then time will tell.

I don't have a smart phone, just a laptop, but would be happy to carry a piece of plastic like a driving license.