As the government's consultation on the introduction of a UK Entitlement IDCard enters its final days, the home office and Lord Falconer were saying that the majority of the 1500 people who have responded to the consultation, were extremely positive on the idea (!?). However some people who have voiced opposition have received replies from the Home Office saying "Thank you for your e-mail...in support of the introduction of an entitlement/identity card scheme."!

Several privacy groups have expressed concern at the proposals, and a simple webform set up by campaigners STAND and others (to allow people to easily object to the proposals) has been used almost 4000 times since it was set up less than one week ago. The deadline for submissions is 31st January.

The system is scheduled to cost over £1.5bn and while the government says it will not be compulsary, it is designed to be used in accessing a range of public services.The proposals include a massive IT project to introduce a universal identifier for all citizens, with a centralised database of personal details, kept accurate by making a new crime of withholding your current address from the government.

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(14thJanUpdate) Privacy International Release
Defy ID Action Network