U.K’S ID CARD SCHEME

The U.K government has decided to heed the concerns of the population and attempt to tackle identity fraud, through the introduction of biometric identification cards. They are claimed to have many security features designed to keep people’s data safe.

These ID cards will consist of reliable security such as:

-          Optical facial recognition                     

-          Iris scanning

-          Fingerprint scanning

-          Signature matching

The purpose of the ID cards is that they would prevent illegal immigration and illegal workers, but it is well-known that work permits and visas already exist and are supposed to address those issues, so the actual purpose given for the cards is privacy because due to the biometric data stored on the system the cards can not be easily forged.

Advantages:

o        Prevent illegal immigration and illegal working. – ID cards will be issued to all British citizens; therefore it will be easy to question those who do not possess such a card. Employers can check that the citizen is eligible for work in the UK quickly and easily.

o        Aid anti-terrorist measures – The new card will make it harder for many terrorists to adopt new personas.

o        Tackle identity theft – Due to the recording of biometric data, the chance of forging such a card decreases.

o        The card system will make things easier.

Disadvantages:

o        Loss of privacy – there is always a chance (however slight), that information could leak one way or another.

o        Cost –ID card will cost EACH citizen £93 approximately.

o        It would worsen harassment of ethnic minorities by providing another reason to stop ethnic minorities: to ask if they had a card.

o        It will have little effect on counter-terrorism.

o        Have little effect on illegal working – employers who are willing to evade the law will find other ways to do so.

In my opinion, an ID card system such as this one should be adapted in Kenya. This is because it will prevent illegal working, everyone will work legally, and also the ID card will help with security of people, it will prevent people from stealing each other identity as these cards are very difficult to be forged, and so overall this ID card scheme would help reduce crime.