UK Plans To Link Criminal Records To ID Cards

Death Metal writes with this excerpt from ComputerWeekly.com about the UK's national ID card scheme: "Privacy advocates have reacted angrily to reports that the government plans to link national identity records to criminal records for background checks on people who work with children and vulnerable people. Up to 11 million such workers could be affected immediately if the plan goes ahead. Phil Booth, national co-ordinator of privacy advocates NO2ID, said the move was consistent with the various forms of coercion strategy to create so-called volunteers for national ID cards. 'Biometrics are part of the search for clean, unique identifiers,' Phil Booth said. He said the idea was patently ridiculous when the Home Office was planning to allow high street shops and the Post Office to take fingerprints for the ID card."

Are they nuts?

[Anonymous Coward]

Is there some kind of horrible joke going on in the goverment, like "Let's see how much we can destory democracy and piss people off before we're kicked out"? The the winner in the next election will have to try to set a new high-score....

Re:hey, UK

[damburger]

Flamebait? Seriously? Has a random number generator been given mod points or something?

Re:hey, UK

[Hognoxious]

The PM appoints the cabinet. Talking of cabinets, have you been skipping your medication again?

Re:Cabn't we just make a law...?

[Nidi62]

But...think of their children!

next up: street judges!

[quickpick]

Street Judge: "HALT CITIZEN! THIS IS A NON SMOKING AREA NEAR A SCHOOL! Lets see that National ID Card...*zip* I see this is your third infraction that makes you an automatic repeat offender."
Citizen: "oh come on...I just lit a bloody fag!"
Street Judge: "THAT'S ANOTHER CITATION FOR A HATE CRIME AND ANOTHER FOR ARSON...HOW DO YOU PLEAD?"
Citizen: "It's not my fault the bloody thing is called a fag...NOT GUILTY."
Street Judge: "I KNEW YOU'D SAY THAT. 24 MONTHS RE-EDUCATION AND 48 MONTHS OF INTENSIVE ANTI-TOBACCO THERAPY, YOU'LL COME OUT LOVING THEM SO MUCH YOU MIGHT JUST BECOME A FLAMING ONE YOURSELF."