NO2ID News Update

south west | policing | news report Monday February 16, 2009 10:01 by no2id supporter

no to the datebase state! Latest news.

NO2ID News No. 116

5 February 2009

+ BILL TO BUILD THE DATABASE STATE GETS ROUGH RECEPTION IN PARLIAMENT +

The Coroners and Justice Bill had its 'Second Reading' - actually the first debate and round of voting - in the House of Commons on Monday 26th January.

In one of the more colourful contributions to the debate, Henry Bellingham (Con) said: "The Bill contains some good ladders, but it has one appalling snake - it is a 50-ft python - in the form of the data protection proposals ... the proposals are very worrying, because they would undermine the whole essence of the data protection legislation."

Clause 152 of the Coroners and Justice Bill is an assault on fundamental data protection principles. It is all by itself as grave a threat to privacy as the entire ID Scheme. To find out more, see http://www.no2id.net/datasharing

Huge thanks to every NO2ID supporter who wrote to their MP in the run up to this debate - the impact of your letters was immediate and apparent. You have helped to raise the profile of measures the government tried to sneak into a long and complex Bill. Extracts from your correspondence were read out by opposition MPs and from the Labour benches, illustrating the depth of public feeling.

Writing to Marsha Singh (Lab), someone made it absolutely clear: "I do not consent to such an abuse of my personal information."

Many other MPs spoke out against the new powers - 'Information Sharing Orders' - that would provide the means for any government department to obtain and use any information however it likes, allowing ministers to alter any Act of Parliament and cancel all rules of confidentiality.

David Howarth (Lib Dem) cited a number of reasons in moving an amendment to strike the entire Bill, in particular "because it will allow unlimited data sharing to occur between any organisations or persons for the purposes of supporting unspecified government policies, regardless of the safeguards contained in other legislation."

Dominic Grieve (Con), the new Shadow Secretary for Justice, said Clause 152 would open the door to "massive and uncontrolled data sharing" and told Secretary for Justice Jack Straw, "we will seek to remove it from the Bill".

With the chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Andrew Dismore (Lab), also wading in with serious concerns it is clear that Section 8 information sharing - clauses 151-154 of this 162-clause Bill - is in for a rough ride.

Unfortunately, the assault on our privacy and liberties is not limited to this Bill alone.

Yet more broad ID and data-trafficking powers will appear in the upcoming Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill; the detail of the Identity Cards Act is being sketched in by secondary legislation now out for 'consultation'; and more news is imminent on both Communications Data and the Interception Modernisation Programme, and roadside checking by police (ID cards? Biometrics?)...

It is *vital* we all keep informed and up to date, and that we maintain the pressure (or encouragement, where appropriate) on MPs and peers as these various Bills and regulations progress through Parliament. Tell other people. Pass this newsletter on. Now, more than ever, we need your support - http://www.no2id.net/getInvolved/join.php

For it is only with YOUR help that we can defeat these dangerous new powers, defend privacy and preserve our fundamental freedoms.

What just happened?

+ Privacy International releases Data Sharing Report +
Privacy International has published a report into the data sharing powers contained in the Coroners and Justice Bill. The report entitled 'Sharing the Misery - The UK’s strategy to circumvent data privacy protections' gives examples of the way in which such powers could be used, such as: "Data on students' course attendance and library borrowing passed to immigration and security services in bulk; Information from party conference registrations passed on from police to government departments and electoral commission; Census data passed to government departments". The document also highlights the lack of proper consultation regarding the powers: "the Data Sharing Review cannot be viewed as a formal public consultation. Instead, it is a question-based document containing no substance or options".
The report can be downloaded at http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd[347]=x-347-563468

+ ID beacon cities - ID scheme in meltdown +
The Home Office has announced that they hope to roll out ID cards this year in several "beacon areas". The reason given by the Home Secretary, at yet another ID card launch this time in Manchester, was to "ensure that the systems are operating smoothly". The fact is that the ID scheme is already years behind schedule, there is no National Identity Register or card reading equipment and the project is becoming more and more unpopular. Perhaps the choice of the word "beacon" is a cleverly disguised clue as to the truth of this latest scheme as it could just be-a-con.

+ Coroners Bill Committee Stage +
The Coroners and Justice Bill began its Committee Stage in the House of Commons this week. In the 1st session Edward Garnier MP said: "When looking at the index of the Bill, a reasonable person could, quite legitimately, comment that Ministers have been running around the Department pulling things off shelves and sticking them into the shopping trolley to create a long Bill." Liberty Policy Officer, Anita Coles told the committee that they have extreme concerns about the data sharing powers as "the way that it is drafted at the moment is that it enables any person to share any information, which not only includes personal data but other data such as company information, simply by ministerial order".
Read transcripts of the Committee Stage at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmpub...r.htm
Follow the 2nd Reading debate at http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2009-01-26a.2...oners

What's next?

+ Volunteers with accountancy skills needed +
NO2ID needs volunteers with accountancy skills to help us with bookkeeping and reconciliation. If you can help please contact office@no2id.net

+ 6th February - Lords Constitution Committee to release Surveillance and Data Collection Inquiry Report +
On Friday, 6th February the House of Lords Constitution Committee will publish the report of their Surveillance and Data Collection Inquiry.
See http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/lords...e.cfm

+ 28th February - The Convention on Modern Liberty +
On Saturday 28th February NO2ID, along with other UK civil liberties organisations, will be hosting Convention on Modern Liberty events across the UK and in London. The main event will take place at the Logan Hall but simultaneously meetings with live video feeds from London will take place in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Manchester, Cambridge and Bristol.
More details here: http://www.modernliberty.net

+ ID cards secondary legislation consultation +
The Identity and Passport Service has launched a consultation on secondary legislation proposed under the Identity Cards Act 2006, including a draft Code of Practice on Civil Penalties. Any comments should be sent to: Robin Woodland, Identity Cards Act Secondary Legislation Consultation, Home Office, Identity and Passport Service, Allington Towers, 19 Allington Street, London SW1E 5EB. Comments may also be sent by email to: identitycards@ips.gsi.gov.uk. If commenting by email then include the words “consultation response” in the subject title. Closing date 13th February 2009.
See http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/downloads/NIS_Legislatio...n.pdf

+ LOCAL GROUPS NEWS +
To see if there's a group in your area check our list at http://www.no2id.net/localGroups/
Or, if you're interested in starting a group yourself, please contact Matty on local.groups@no2id.net to discuss what's involved and what we have in place to support coordinators and their groups.

+ Bristol +

+ 28th February - Modern Liberty satellite Convention +
Saturday, 28th February at New Trinity Hall we will be holding a Modern Liberty satellite convention in conjunction with An Adventure in Technology. More details at (http://www.modernliberty.net/satellite-conventions/bristol) as they become available. This event is free to attend.

+ Worcester +

+ 11th February - Worcester NO2ID Meeting +
Wednesday, 11th February 8pm at The Portobello Inn, St Johns, Worcester (map available from our website @ http://www.no2id-worcester.org.uk/meetings). Look out for the NO2ID Logo to spot us if you have not been before. Its an open door policy. Anyone can come along regardless of your stance, experience or awareness on the issues regarding or related to the National Identity Scheme. Why not bring a friend and join us for some drinks! If you cannot make it stay tuned for the details of the meeting's outcome on our website blog @ http://www.no2id-worcester.org.uk/blog

"ID" in the news

+ ID cards should conceal as well as reveal identity - The Guardian 5/2/09 +
Mug that I am, I expect to be an early adopter. The personal convenience of having a backup travel document for trips within Europe seems worth the personal hassle of enrolling for a UK government ID card when they go on general sale next year.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/feb/05/id-car...ffice

+ New identity card tsar to cost the taxpayer up to £250,000 - Daily Mail 4/2/09 +
Ministers are to hire a National Identity Scheme Commissioner, who will receive a six-figure salary and a gold-plated pension.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1135846/New-ide....html

+ ID cards are here - but police can't read them - silicon.com 4/2/09 +
The first UK ID cards have already been issued - but no UK police officers or border guards have any way of reading the data stored on them.
http://www.silicon.com/publicsector/0,3800010403,393911...0.htm

+ Information sharing consultation - E-Health Insider 3/2/09 +
The government has launched a consultation on information sharing across health, social care and wider community support services. The consultation will examine how the assessment process for people who need health and social care should work in future.
http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/4537/information_sharing_consultation

+ EU security agency draws 'privacy baseline' for ID cards - The Register 3/2/09 +
ENISA (the European Network and Information Security Agency) argues that the "vast disparity between privacy features in electronic ID cards across Europe" is creating a recipe for future trouble. Typical current applications for identity cards include their use for tax declarations and other e-government services, but more ambitious commercial application are in the pipeline.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/03/enisa_id_cards_...ysis/

+ James Crosby appointed chairman of Misys - Computer Weekly 3/2/09 +
Sir James Crosby, who produced a report highly critical of the government's plans to introduce ID cards, has been appointed to chairman-designate of the board of Misys, the banking and health software company.
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/02/03/23456...s.htm

+ Blunkett and Straw slip up - The Guardian 2/2/09 +
The pure joy of new snow has only been equalled in the last few days by watching two home secretaries slipping and sliding in the press. First there was David Blunkett, who appeared to be criticising government plans to record every email, internet connection and telephone call, saying it was a threat to civil liberties. This is puzzling. Is he ignorant of the measures in the coroners and justice bill, which propose a vast data sharing operation between government departments?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter/200...rties

+ Passport RFIDs cloned wholesale by $250 eBay auction spree - The Register 2/2/09 +
Paget's device has a range of about 30 feet, making it ideal for discretely skimming the EDL and passport card tags of people who pass by his vehicle. With modifications, Paget says his device could read RFID identifiers that are more than a mile away.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/02/low_cost_rfid_c....html

+ Government brings forward ID card launch - Computer Active 29/1/09 +
The Government is bringing forward its plans to launch identity cards to the British public. Eager to stress the benefits of ID cards, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith today announced that British nationals will be able to get the cards on a voluntary basis this year.
http://www.computeractive.co.uk/computeractive/news/223...later

+ Manchester 'could pilot ID cards' - BBC News 29/1/09 +
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith explains the government's ID card scheme to a class of school children
Ministers say public support for ID cards is high Manchester could be one of the testing grounds for the government's ID cards scheme, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said during a visit to the city.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7859097.stm