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Original poster

Id cards.

76 replies

thimblewomble879 · 23/02/2023 07:01

I have to say. I'm in favour of them. I know there are worries about big brother and id. But

I worked jn retail banking for years. I saw first hand the issues people had everyday with valid id. I regulatory told people to apply for a passport (even if they didn't travel) as it was "fairly good value"for a ten year id.

I have also lived in several European countries and id cards where standard and no one raised an eyebrow.

OP posts:
SerendipityJane · 23/02/2023 14:46

Ponderingwindow · 23/02/2023 14:32

I don’t really understand why people are more concerned with having a government id than they are with the fact that there is a private credit agencies tracking them and making life impacting decisions for them.

Which is a similar faux naive attitude to the one on the trusting police thread that these things are equivalent. And which ignores the fact that the government can make the law and lock you up. Unlike Experian.

Considering that women always get the shitty end of any stick that is a government initiative, I would have thought there would be a little less credulity here. Although it does explain the existence of Boris Johnson, MP.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 23/02/2023 14:49

EmmaEmerald · 23/02/2023 14:45

How do you top up please? Many stations aren't taking cash now.

Show quote history

I use the local newsagents.

SerendipityJane · 23/02/2023 14:55

Also, we have at the moment a benign government (if incompetent).

This government is probably one of the least benign I have lived under. It's only their incompetence which has stopped them going full on McCartyite.

Banning strikes ?
Breaking international treaties ?
Making legal content illegal ?

If you aren't scared by their direction of travel, you've had too much in flight booze. The only glimmer of hope is they are doomed and know it. But like a wounded animal, that's when they are at their most dangerous.

EmmaEmerald · 23/02/2023 14:55

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 23/02/2023 14:49

I use the local newsagents.

Show quote history

I feel a right plum now, I only use the station and was worried what happens when I move. Thank you!

EmmaEmerald · 23/02/2023 14:56

SerendipityJane yes, "benign' is not a word I'd use about our government.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 23/02/2023 15:01

This government is probably one of the least benign I have lived under

Are you including the one that wanted to introduce ID cards in the first place in that? perhaps 'benign in comparison with some others in the world right now,' then. Although I appreciate that's not exactly an accolade.

Anyway. ID cards. No thanks.

SerendipityJane · 23/02/2023 15:05

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 23/02/2023 15:01

This government is probably one of the least benign I have lived under

Are you including the one that wanted to introduce ID cards in the first place in that? perhaps 'benign in comparison with some others in the world right now,' then. Although I appreciate that's not exactly an accolade.

Anyway. ID cards. No thanks.

I would happily have warmonger Blair and his acolytes back in exchange for this rabble. At least he wasn't held hostage by a tiny minority of a minority whilst his party plundered their way through the public purse like it was going out of fashion.

tommika · 23/02/2023 15:14

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 23/02/2023 13:40

Bless. Ever heard of mission creep and 'yes, we know we SAID we wouldn't do this or need this info but you know, national security etc etc...you want to be safe from terrorism, don't you?'

Show quote history

I tagged you among 3 posters, but was referring to @EmmaEmerald saying that this consultation is about sharing unnecessary information such as tax records

Mission creep and absolute statements are very different things

Ponderingwindow · 23/02/2023 15:14

SerendipityJane · 23/02/2023 14:46

Which is a similar faux naive attitude to the one on the trusting police thread that these things are equivalent. And which ignores the fact that the government can make the law and lock you up. Unlike Experian.

Considering that women always get the shitty end of any stick that is a government initiative, I would have thought there would be a little less credulity here. Although it does explain the existence of Boris Johnson, MP.

Show quote history

Except that the government doesn’t need a centralized Id to track you. Studies have shown we can be tracked with just a few pieces of information. Ethics and laws are the only thing stopping any entity from doing that.

SerendipityJane · 23/02/2023 15:26

Except that the government doesn’t need a centralized Id to track you. Studies have shown we can be tracked with just a few pieces of information. Ethics and laws are the only thing stopping any entity from doing that.

And competence.

A bit like the old joke about projects:

Works,
On time,
Within budget.

Pick any two.

The moment a tender gets put out to getmatesrichquick ltd. you can kiss goodbye to any hope of serious functionality. Again. I give you Universal Credit. A project so fucked up that even the department of fucked up things proved incapable of determining how fucked up it was and had to reset it to just fucked up.

However, cynicism aside, I join with all in my determination that we make governments serve us, and not vice versa. Because countries where you serve the government are either fascist or communist, depending on the moon.

GloomyDarkness · 23/02/2023 15:45

Mission creep why we got rid of ID cards after WW2 - Harry Wilcock refused to hand one over with a routine traffic stop and it went all up the courts and it was decided that the original security reason for ID cards did not mean it should be demanded by police with traffics stops - the government scrapped them.

So I do get the concern with mission creep.

Thing is in modern life photo ID is more and more asked for so I do feel having a national one widely accepted would be helpful to many - especially with voter ID coming in which frankly I can't believe past into law.

SerendipityJane · 23/02/2023 15:49

especially with voter ID coming in which frankly I can't believe past into law.

I'm sure it's benign ....

Rummikub · 23/02/2023 16:02

The voter ID would become the National ID card?

Im against all of this. I fail to see the gains. There’s lots of other ways to prove identity or proof of address.

Iflyaway · 23/02/2023 16:20

I can use it to travel within Schengen without needing a passport.

Also Morocco, Turkey, Scandinavia etc. All countries in Europe not in the EU.

I have to remember now I need to take my passport if travelling to UK!

I think it's great. It's the same size as a credit card and no, it does not have my address or email on it.

Really handy abroad if you have to verify a credit card purchase without having to carry your passport around with you. (This was outside Europe).

Iflyaway · 23/02/2023 16:21

P.s. I know (part of) Turkey or Morocco are not in Europe!

Saltywalruss · 23/02/2023 16:25

MissAmbrosia · 23/02/2023 14:11

I live abroad and have one I have to carry. I find it no problem at all. I like that I have to prove where I live and that I have access to employment, benefits and medical treatment. If I move house, my new address is automatically updated to all relevant depts/companies. I can use it to access my health and pension records. If I see a doctor they can load a prescription on it. If I buy a public transport pass they can see what discount I might be entitled to and upload a photo. I can give my accountant a DOA to access my tax records. I can use it to vote. I can use it to travel within Schengen without needing a passport.

What if you just want to go out for a walk and don't have any pockets?

EmmaEmerald · 23/02/2023 16:32

tommika · 23/02/2023 15:14

I tagged you among 3 posters, but was referring to @EmmaEmerald saying that this consultation is about sharing unnecessary information such as tax records

Mission creep and absolute statements are very different things

Show quote history

I didn’t say anything about tax actually

but the government website refers to sharing information across departments?

SerendipityJane · 23/02/2023 16:38

What if you just want to go out for a walk and don't have any pockets?

You don't. Or rather if you do you accept you can be arrested and held until such time as your identity* can be established.

*by which we mean the colour of your skin, of course. Or the cut of your jib. Or any other reason the policeman (or other official) may have for deciding to "check your ID".

tommika · 23/02/2023 18:28

EmmaEmerald · 23/02/2023 16:32

I didn’t say anything about tax actually

but the government website refers to sharing information across departments?

Show quote history

But when two posters mentioned tax records you stated ‘that’s the plan’

….another German here. The German forestry commision knows zip about my tax affairs. What a bizarre assertion.
^^
If you look at the UK consultation, that's the plan though - hence we need more consultation.

KnickerlessParsons · 23/02/2023 18:45

What if you just want to go out for a walk and don't have any pockets?

I put things down my bra. Some men can't do that though.

MrsSkylerWhite · 23/02/2023 18:52

Wouldn’t concern me. They’d need to be free, though.

Buttalapasta · 23/02/2023 19:05

What if you just want to go out for a walk and don't have any pockets?
I don't take mine if I'm out running. I've lived here for 25 years and have never been stopped. probably jinxed it now

MissAmbrosia · 23/02/2023 19:06

If you don't have any pockets? Most people don't leave the house without a phone, which probably tracks much more personal info about you than any ID card.

Time40 · 23/02/2023 19:07

I am totally against them, for reasons already given by others on this thread.

catsonahottinroof · 23/02/2023 20:05

I'm completely against the idea too and immediately suspicious of anyone campaigning for them as I can't see what they provide over and above a passport or driving licence from a citizen's point of view. There are people who are really keen for everyone to have digital id but why? Obviously some are ready to make some serious money from it but who is behind the lobbying? Why are Tony Blair and William Hague so keen on it? And I really hope it doesn't come in that everyone has to both own a smartphone and carry it round with them all the time.