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Technology Stocks : Identix (IDNX) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: steve who wrote (25911)	4/22/2004 12:17:38 PM
From: steve	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 26039

British Public Gives Huge ‘Thumbs Up’ For National Id Cards Date posted in ITsecurity.com: 22 April, 2004 * Civil rights arguments find little support from British public * Illegal immigration – not terrorism – is key concern LONDON, 22 APRIL, 2004 – The British public has given a resounding ‘yes’ to David Blunkett’s proposed ID card scheme with 80 percent of the adult population in favour. Strong arguments from human rights campaigners have apparently fallen on deaf ears, according to new independent research carried out for specialist IT consultancy Detica, with 73 percent of British adults saying they have little or no concern at all about any negative impact on their human rights. The research bears out Prime Minister Tony Blair’s recent statement on ID cards, in which he said: “... there is no longer a civil liberties objection ... in the vast majority of quarters”. Indeed, the Detica research shows that more than 80 percent of the 1000 British adults quizzed by MORI are happy to carry cards at all times and 60 percent favour giving the police the power to compel them to present their ID cards at a police station within a week, much as with driving documents today. 44 percent also said they were happy for police to check cards on the spot. Surprisingly, despite recent terrorist outrages, the research shows that the Government is failing to persuade people that ID cards are needed to combat terrorism. Indeed when asked to explain why they favour the scheme only 16 percent said they saw it as a means to deter terrorists, while more than twice that number (33 percent) believe it will help prevent illegal immigration. The report shows that, ahead of terrorism, those who back ID cards expect the scheme to: * Make it easier to detect and arrest criminals (21 percent) * Prove who you are – when registering with a new GP or for a credit card, for example (20 percent) * Prevent criminals applying for and getting money, services or products by fraudulently using another name (18 percent) * Combine driving licence, passport and ID in one easy document (17 percent) Martin Sutherland, Head of Public Sector at Detica, comments: “This is a massive endorsement of the ID card scheme and the research findings will undoubtedly boost the Government as it prepares for the draft Bill presentation in Parliament next month. The lack of concern about potential civil liberties violations shows a measured response from the general public. After all, many countries around the world have implemented ID card schemes and none have become a police state as a result. The challenge now is to ensure that a scheme of this scale and vision is delivered effectively and efficiently.” itsecurity.com steve